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NONE  SUCH? 


THERE  WILL  YET  BE  THOUSANDS 


BY 

EMORY   J.    HAYNES 


BOSTON 
THE  NORTH   PUBLISHING   CO. 

'893 


COPYRIGHT,  1893, 
BY  THE  NOUTH  PUBLISHING  Co. 


C.  J.  PETEBS  &  SON, 

TTPE-SETTFRR  AND  EI.F.OTKOTVPEBB, 

J«  Hion  STREET,  BOBTON, 


NONE  SUCH? 

THERE  WILL  YET  BE  THOUSANDS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  THIS  way,  Charley !  " 

"  I  am  coming,  dearie  !  " 

The  young  girl  stood,  full  revealed  in  the  advan- 
cing glory  of  a  June  morning,  on  the  marble  landing 
beneath  the  porte  cochere  of  a  marble  house.  She 
rose  on  tiptoe  as  she  called,  supporting  her  pretty 
self  by  resting  her  finger-tips  on  the  lip  of  a  marble 
vase  whose  wealth  of  blossoms  she  sought  to  over- 
look. 

The  answering  voice,  rich,  deep  and  tender  with  a 
meaning,  came  from  somewhere  down  amid  the  flow- 
ering shrubbery  of  the  lawn.  The  man  was  not  to 
be  seen  as  yet.  The  voice  reassured  the  girl,  how- 
ever ;  for  instantly  the  glow  of  expectancy  arid  per- 
haps anxiety  came  into  her  lovely  face,  enhancing,  if 
such  a  thing  \vere  possible,  her  marvelous  beauty. 

"You  are  the  fairest  thing  in    the  whole  world,'' 


2O61S1B 


4  NONE  SUCH? 

exclaimed  the  young  man,  as  the  next  instant  he 
pushed  past  a  great  golden  shrub  and  halted  to  gaze 
at  her. 

"  Governor  Randall  is  home ! "  was  her  excited 
reply. 

"  So  I  hear,"  he  answered  quietly,  as  he  came  on 
across  the  grass. 

"  But,  Charley  Horicon,"  she  quickly  half  whis- 
pered, turning  her  shapely  head  with  a  glance  up 
towards  the  white  shining  front  of  the  great  house 
as  if  to  suggest  that  some  one  might  overhear,  "  you 
—  you  have  never  yet  seen  the  Governor." 

"True  enough,  my  sweet  Dorothea,"  said  Horicon, 
lifting  himself  up  beside  her,  and  putting  his  arm 
about  her.  "  I  am  not  frightened  to  death  because 
our  great  employer  has  returned  from  great  Lon- 
don. We  are  all  equals  in  this  Yankee  land." 
He  caught  her  hand  from  the  lip  of  the  vase  and 
kissed  it  while  he  held  it  in  his  own  broad,  brown 
fingers.  Everything  about  this  Horicon  was  heroic, 
as  sculptors  measure  size ;  and  three  of  his  fingers 
held  her  whole  hand,  if  he  pleased,  as  he  did 
now. 

"But  our  entire  future  in  life  is  put  at  hazard 
now  " 

"  Indeed !  You  poor,  frightened  bird,"  the  young 
fellow  broke  in,  touching  her  cheek  and  turning  her 
face  up  to  his  gaze.  "  I  thought  you  were  the  bravest 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  5 

little  woman  in  the  world.  Why,  you  are  all  of  a 
nervous  tremble.  One  would  think  I  had  done  some- 
thing wrong  with  his  property.  Shall  I  make  the 
rich  old  man  pay  for  this  distress  to  you  ?  " 

"  What  ?  "  She  opened  her  large  brown  eyes  on 
him  with  wonder  that  he  could  be  so  self-possessed. 

"  That  is,"  he  said,  "  shall  I  begin  by  disliking  him 
who  so  terrorizes  persons  in  his  employ?" 

"  You  know  what  I  mean,"  she  protested.  "  It  is 
very  important,  I  should  say,  to  us  that  Governor 
Randall  likes  you,  a  young  fellow  to  whom  he  has 
intrusted  a  fine  position  upon  no  personal  knowledge 
of  you." 

"  My  work  as  landscape  gardener  and  curator  of 
these  grounds  must  speak  for  itself.  I  know  I  can 
do  his  work  " 

"  If  he  knows  what  he  wants  done,"  she  objected. 

"  Yes,"  he  mused,  beginning  himself  to  grow  more 
thoughtful  over  the  situation.  "  It  is  no  easy  matter 
to  help  a  millionaire  spend  his  money  for  his  own 
pleasure." 

i  "  The  idea  of  Governor  Randall  trying  to  get 
pleasure  for  himself  out  of  anything ! "  laughed 
Dorothea  Mayfield,  showing  her  pretty  teeth. 

"That's  it,"  replied  Horicon.  "I  take  it  he's  too 
everlasting  busy  to  enjoy  anything."  He  spoke  this 
with  an  evident  purpose  to  draw  the  girl  out. 

"  Oh,  Charley,"  she  sighed,  "  I  have  tried  and  tried 


b  NONE  SUCH? 

to  give  you  some  just  idea  of  this  strange  man  whom 
everybody  knows  and  yet  nobody  knows."  She 
pulled  at  his  long,  black  mustache  as  she  spoke,  and 
when  he  caught  her  hand  she  continued :  "  The 
time  has  come  when  you  must  also  pass  under  the 
sharp  scrutiny  of  his  keen  blue  eyes.  No  one  can 
foretell.  He  may  like  you  at  a  single  glance. 
He  decides  on  everything  so  quickly.  Then,  again, 
he  may  dislike  you,  and  plunge  into  his  day's  work 
ignoring  you." 

"  But  I  am  under  contract." 

"  Charley,"  and  her  voice  sunk  to  a  whisper  as  she 
said  it,  "  a  contract  is  nothing,  a  bare  contract.  You 
don't  know  Governor  Randall.  Then,  too,  it  is  your 
whole  career  which  is  at  stake.  If  you  can  only  go 
on  here,  beautifying  this  estate,  making  a  great  name 
for  yourself ! " 

"  Which  necessitates  cordial  relations  and  the  ut- 
most trust  between  master  and  man,  of  course,"  added 
he,  finishing  out  her  thought. 

"  You  are  so  fearless  and  so  strong,"  Dorothea  re- 
sumed in  a  low,  sweet  voice,  as  if  she  had  a  right  to 
be  his  adviser  for  some  reason,  "  that  you  do  not  fore- 
see dangers  as  a  girl  does.  All  our  plans,  you  know, 
dear  boy,"  and  she  nestled  up  to  his  broad  shoulder, 
where  her  housekeeper's  white  cap  contrasted  prettily 
with  his  blue  flannel  gardener's  jacket,  "  are  made 
in  expectation  of  your  success  here." 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  7 

"  Not  quite,  dearie,  after  we  have  been  betrothed 
since  we  were  sixteen  years  old."  He  stoutly  as- 
serted it,  his  muscular  arm  drawing  her  closely  to 
him.  "  Of  course  I  want  to  make  a  go  of  this,  being 
just  graduated  and  ready  for  life  —  and  you.  But  it 
is  a  wide  world.  It  is  no  egotism  to  say  I  am  master 
of  my  profession.  There  are  other  fine  estates  in  the 
land,  however." 

"  I  know.  But  if  only  Governor  Randall  did  take 
one  of  those  queer  personal  likes  of  his !  He  could 
be  so  considerate,  and  give  you  such  an  opportunity. 
For  spending  money  on  this  magnificent  home  of  his 
is  mere  play  when  he  is  pleased." 

"  And  it  probably  will  not  increase  his  good  nature 
to  be  informed  that  you  are  going  to  teach  this  sum- 
mer, while  you  get  all  the  fixings  ready." 

She  put  her  hand  on  his  lips.  A  girl's  wedding 
"  fixings  "  are  too  sacred  for  discussion,  even  with  her 
lover,  till  a  very  few  hours  before  the  clergyman  ar- 
rives. But  she  added,  "  I  wrote  Governor  Randall  in 
England  that  I  should  take  the  upper  district  school 
soon  after  his  return." 

"  He  has  been  several  days  in  Boston,  I  hear,  and 
all  day  yesterday  at  the  general  offices  down  town, 
they  say,"  remarked  Horicon. 

"  Yes ;  working  always  like  a  serf,"  she  added. 
"  This  will  be  his  first  day  at  the  house.  And  I  think 
it's  his  birthday.  You'll  be  sent  for.  There'll  be 


8  NONE  SUCH? 

many  men  here  on  appointments,  no  doubt.  But  he 
will  ask  for  you." 

"  And  we  shall  soon  know  how  we  like  each  other," 
added  the  young  man  in  good  solid  self-respect  as  he 
dropped  down  to  the  pavement. 

Dorothea  Mayfield  lingered  to  watch  him  out  of  her 
sight,  returning  to  his  work.  She  gloried  in  his 
spirit  and  believed  in  his  "genius,"  as  she  named  it 
in  her  prayers.  But  her  woman's  heart  was  afraid. 
Her  happiness  was  so  near,  yet  was  so  dependent  on 
many  things.  She  should  now  have  returned  to  her 
duties,  yet  she  did  not.  She  tripped  down  the  veran- 
da, and  flew  across  the  lawn  to  a  fountain,  at  whose 
ice-cold  mountain  waters  she  drank.  She  paused  with 
the  silvery  chain  of  the  cup  in  her  hand,  and  studied 
the  silent  east  front  of  the  mansion  within  whose 
walls  such  strange  events,  she  felt  sure,  as  women  say 
when  they  mean  a  seer's  vision  all  their  own,  were 
"yet  to  take  place  in  her  young  life." 

An  educated  young  woman,  having  had  interior 
charge  of  the  establishment  for  nearly  a  year,  she 
knew  every  servant,  every  room.  But  she  knew  little 
of  the  forceful,  rich  old  man  whose  noble  chamber 
yonder  windows  were  now  flooding,  and  where  every- 
thing had  received  the  touch  of  her  exquisite  taste. 
She  wondered  if  he  noticed  at  all  that  his  apartments 
were  matchlessly  elegant. 

Meanwhile  there  were   other   people   in   the  rich 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  9 

man's  employ,  who  were  moving  about  within  and 
apparently  reflecting,  by  their  talk  and  actions,  quite 
a  different  side  light  on  this  singular  character,  Gov- 
ernor Randall. 

For  instance,  Dennis,  the  old  valet  of  many  years, 
had  just  come  down  into  the  library,  saying  to  the 
housemaid,  — 

"  Good-morniif,  Kittie.  Stop  dustin'  for  a  minit, 
Avill  ye,  and  lind  yer  fellar-servant  a  helpin' 
hand?" 

"  What'll  you  have,  Dennis  ?  "  replied  the  girl,  gaz- 
ing round  the  elegant  library  with  solicitude,  as  she 
whipped  at  the  flying  motes  in  the  sunbeams  with 
her  hand. 

"  I'm  sint  to  bring  a  book  for  the  Guv'nor,  an'  I'm 
blowed  if  the  name  of  it  hain't  blowed  out  o'  me 
mind  as  I  passed  the  open  winder  in  the  hall," 
replied  Dennis,  as  he  stood  in  honest  perplexity, 
scanning  the  massive  case  of  shelves. 

"  What  was  it  about,  Dennis?" 

"  Now,  Kittie,  me  beauty,"  replied  the  man  with 
a  droll  and  kindly  leer,  "  how  sh'd  I  know  where  you 
were  born,  for  instance  ?  " 

"I  was  born  four  miles  north-west  of  Cork, 
Ireland." 

"  That's  nigh  t'  the  Blarney  Stone,  me  dear," 
laughed  he.  "  Did  ye  ever  kiss  it  ? "  And  he 
made  for  her  a  step. 


10  NONE   SUCH? 

"  What  do  ye  mane  ?  "  with  a  whip  at  him  and  a 
blush.  "  I  make  no  doubt  you  have  though.  What's 
that  got  to  do  with  the  book  ?  " 

"  Yis,  yis.  The  dear  old  Guv'nor  wants  his  book," 
mused  Dennis,  returning  to  his  search.  "  Poor  lone- 
some gintleman  in  this  great  house,  Kittie  !  God 
bless  him  !  This  is  the  Guv'nor's  birthday,  d'ye 
mind  ?  " 

"  He's  a  nice  man,  is  Guv'nor  Randall,  sure ! " 
exclaimed  the  girl,  beginning  to  wield  her  feathers 
anew.  "  All  of  us  servants  like  the  old  gintleman. 
He's  kind  to  us,  anyway.  But  I  wouldn't  stay  in 
this  lonesome  house,  foine  and  great  as  it  be,  for 
'taint  nothin'  but  another  business  office  after  he  gets 
home  and  before  he  goes  to  town,  — I  wouldn't  stay 
here  for  all  my  big  wages,  except  for  sweet  Miss 
May  field,  the  pretty  dear." 

"  An'  yer  right,  child,"  spoke  Dennis  with  hearty 
dignity,  lowering  his  voice  to  guttural,  and  using 
a  solemn  gesture  of  his  crooked  forefinger.  "  Doro- 
thy Mayfield  bein'  a  leddy  indade,  every  inch  of  her 
handsome  self.  And  Charley  Horicon,  the  new 
head  gard'ner,  d'ye  mind  him,  Kittie  ?  He's  foine, 
foine ;  looks  like  the  Guv'nor  hisself,  as  he  used  to 
look  fifty  year  ago,  so  ol'  Clarkson  says." 

"  Governor  Randall  not  up  yet?  " 

Both  the  servants  started  and  made  obeisance, 
though  one  might  have  detected  a  half-patronizing 


THERE    WILL    YET  T,K    THOUSANDS.  11 

air  in  their  courtesies  to  the  new  comer  who  stood  in 
the  library  door. 

"  Misther  Clarkson,"  said  Dennis,  "his  Excellency 
is  up." 

"  Yes,  up  stairs  in  his  bed,  lazy  dog ! "  and  the 
white-haired,  tall,  massive  old  man  stumped  stiffly 
along  the  floor,  pounding  out  with  his  cane  as  he 
strode.  "  These  rich  men  git  ter  be  powerful  lazy. 
I've  hoed  ten  rows  of  'taters  this  mornin'  in  my  new 
south  patch.  Humph !  up  stairs  in  bed  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  mornin' !  I'm  jest  dead  t'  see  him 
after  his  long  absence  from  the  few  't  really  love 
him." 

The  servants  laughed,  for  old  Clarkson's  growl  had 
warmth  and  kindness  in  it  always.  There  are  growls 
that  are  more  cheery  than  honeyed  words. 

"  The  Guv'nor  is  up  in  bed,  sirr,"  protested  Den- 
nis ;  "  and  his  coffee  is  down  his  throat,  sirr,  and  he's 
callin'  for  his  books.  Kittie,  help  me  think.  What's 
the  name  of  the  feller  who  licked  all  creation,  an' 
then  wept  ter  think  there  warn't  no  more  wurrlds 
to  wollop  ?  " 

"  Alexander  the  Great,  man,"  growled  out  Clark- 
son  indulgently,  stumping  over  and  soon  securing 
the  volume.  "What  in  time  is  Randall  readin'  up 
Alexander  for?  " 

Dennis  slapped  his  knee.  "  Thank  ye.  It's  some- 
thin',  Mr.  Clarkson,  about  Alexander  College,  the 


12  2VGLVA1    KUCllf 


Guv'nor's  to  make  a  speech  at.  I  say,  Mr.  Clarkson, 
this  man  wept  hecause  there  warn't  no  more  wurrlds 
ter  wollop,  eh?  " 

At  the  door  Clarkson  flung  back  u  So  they  say." 

"  Oh,  but  auld  Ireland  warn't  born  then,  or  he'd 
a  lied  fightin'  'nuff  on  his  hands." 

Clarkson  fidgeted  out  into  the  wide  hall,  flooded 
with  the  morning  sun,  to  warm  his  dear  old  bones 
and  wait. 

"  Hist,  Kittie,"  said  Dennis,  "d'ye  mind,  it's  not 
quarrelin'  with  the  dear  ould  soul.  Only  it  makes 
me  roiled,  like,  to  see  him  strut  round  here.  You'd 
think  he  was  th'  Guv'nor,  'n'  th'  Guv'nor  was  him, 
instead  of  the  Guv'nor  jist  supportin'  him." 

"  They  were  boys  together,  I  hear  tell,"  said  she, 
as  Dennis  went  away  with  the  book. 

The  maid  turned  to  her  delaj^ed  dusting  with  a 
will,  but  had  scarcely  finished  righting  the  room  when 
in  strode  Clarkson  again,  and  threw  himself  down  in 
an  easy-chair,  with  — 

"  Guv'nor  Randall's  gittin'  up  at  last.  In  fact, 
he's  comin'  down  the  stairs.  I'll  wait." 

A  moment  later  Governor  Randall  entered  with 
quick  step  and  showing  signs  of  being  ill  at  ease,  fol- 
lowed by  Dennis,  carrying  the  book  which  the  master 
snatched  from  his  servant's  hand,  snapping  out,  — 

"  Took  you  long  enough,  I  hope.  Nobody  else  but 
me  would  have  kept  you,  Dennis,  for  twenty  years." 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  13 

Look  on  him  a  moment,  this  old  man  of  affairs. 
More  than  six  feet  tall  he  stood,  a  giant  frame,  yet 
worn  thin  as  skeletons  are.  It  was,  those  days,  the 
handsomest  face  of  man  the  sun  ever  shone  upon. 
The  brow  fine,  high  and  wide  ;  the  blue  eyes,  looking 
out  keen  and  clear,  their  pure  color  untarnished  by 
age  ;  the  strong  straight  nose  through  whose  trem- 
bling nostrils  the  breath  came  and  went  as  in  a  race 
horse's ;  the  cheek  and  jaw  massive.  The  white, 
wavy  hair  seemed  fine  as  silk,  and  shone  in  the  bend 
of  its  every  wave  about  the  temples.  The  lips 
seemed  sensitive  to  his  thought;  and  they  quivered 
now  with  the  nervous  unrest  of  a  high-spirited, 
weary,  and,  one  would  surely  say,  an  unhappy  man. 

"  Good-morning,  Hezekiah  Randall,  old  boy  !"  ex- 
claimed John  Clarkson  from  behind.  "  I  come  up 
from  my  new  south  lot  ter  drink  yer  birthday." 

Clarkson's  face  beamed  upon  his  patron,  not  with 
snobbish  deference,  but  with  all  the  large-hearted 
love  of  a  grateful  man  who  still  felt  h'.mself  the  equal 
of  his  benefactor.  As  the  two  stood  side  by  side  in 
the  light  of  the  new  day  they  looked  imposing, 
crowned  with  the  white  locks  of  age. 

"  Hello  !  John,  remembered  it,  did  ye  ?  "  Instantly 
the  rich  man's  spirit  suffered  change.  The  handsome 
head  half  turned  as  the  left  hand  in  great  familiarity 
stole  out,  feeling  for  Clarkson's  right  hand.  "  Give 
me  an  honest  man's  hand,  John."  The  stridulous 


14  NONE  SUCH? 

tone  of  fatigue  and  vexation  softened  still  further  in- 
to a  pathetic  tenderness,  and  no  man  ever  lived  whose 
voice  could  so  quickly  change  from  harsh  to  tender. 
"So  you  remembered  my  birthday!  Ain't  many 
who  do,  my  friend.  We're  getting  pretty  old.  Yes, 
a  little  wine  to-day  ?  " 

The  wine  stood  ready  on  the  table  as  hand  in  hand 
the  two  men  walked  up  to  it. 

"  Only  time  I  tech  it,  Hezekiah,"  remarked  Clark- 
son  apologetically,  lifting  the  glass. 

"  Same  here,"  replied  the  Governor,  draining  his 
small  draught  nervously.  "  That's  how  we  outwear 
all  the  boys,  Clarkson." 

"  It's  nineteen  annivarsaries  this  present,  Kiah,  thet 
I've  marched  in  here  on  yer  birthday,  and  took  up 
this  'ere  lovin'  cup;  nineteen  sence  ye  give  me  —  I 
mean,  nineteen  sence  I  hired  them  two  acres  on  ye 
thet  I  till." 

Aside  the  governor  whispered  as  if  to  himself, 
"  Hired  !  I  give  him  the  clothes  on  his  back  !  "  Then 
recollecting  himself,  he  said  softly,  "  As  much  as 
that,  John?  You  are  eighty-five,  then." 

"  Yis,  ye're  four  year  younger'ii  me." 

"  Well,  drop  down  out  in  the  setting-room,  old 
friend,  for  a  while.  I'm  expecting  my  lawyer.  Then 
I'll  get  a  minute  more.  Dennis,  tell  Miss  Mayfield  I 
want  to  see  her." 

Left  alone  the  old  gentleman  sat  down  by  his  desk 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  15 

nervously,  and  glanced  over  the  accumulated  matter 
there,  but  did  not  offer  to  begin  any  work.  His  eyes 
were  on  the  great  doors  leading  from  the  dining- 
room.  An  animated  and  expectant  gaze  it  was.  His 
long,  thin  fingers  played  with  the  carved  arms  of  his 
chair,  and  his  small  feet  shuffled  back  and  forth  rest- 
lessly on  the  heavy  carpet.  Some  one  was  coming 
in  whom  he  was  deeply  interested,  that  was  plain 
enough  to  be  seen. 

The  door  opens  and  she  is  before  him.  Miss  Dor- 
othea Mayfield,  daughter  of  "  old  Mayfield,  the  bank- 
rupt," dead  and  buried,  and  leaving  his  only  child 
with  her  mother  to  find  their  own  way  through  this 
world. 

Very  young  for  a  housekeeper  in  this  great  resi- 
dence, that  is  evident.  But  this  Yankee  girl  is  no 
child.  Though  her  one  and  twenty  years  have  been 
full  of  trials,  yet  that  singular  beauty  that  premature 
care  brings  when  the  mind  is  earnest  had  greatly  en- 
hanced the  loveliness  of  her  face.  It  is  a  child,  yet  a 
woman,  who  stands  there  in  her  simple  housekeeper's 
attire.  Her  dress  is  as  sunny  as  the  morning, 
though  fitted  for  work,  as  when  we  last  saw  her 
drinking  at  the  fountain. 

She  stands  self-respectful,  yet  with  the  deference 
of  one  employed,  her  brown  eyes  looking  the  old  man 
frankly  in  the  face,  and  her  shapely  arms,  which  had 
been  bared  to  the  elbow  when  she  promptly  obeyed 


16  NONE  SUCH? 

this  imperious  master's  summons,  soon  covered  down 
and  crossed  before  her.  To  the  lord  of  the  mansion 
she  reveals  none  of  the  solicitude  that  she  showed 
Charley  Horicon. 

"  We  learn  to  make  haste,  Governor  Randall,  when 
you  call  for  us,"  she  said  modestly ;  and  then  she 
stood  in  composed  attention,  the  prettiest  foot  in  the 
world  tapping  the  carpet  at  the  edge  of  her  skirt. 

"  Good-morning  to  you,  Miss  Mayfield,"  said  the 
Governor.  "You  all  treat  an  old  man's  whims  too 
indulgently." 

"  You  are  not  a  hard  employer  at  home,  sir,"  she 
responded,  bending  graciously. 

Miss  Mayfield  could  make  no  movement  awk- 
wardly. She  was  neither  short  nor  tall,  neither  spare 
nor  stout.  She  was  perfection  in  figure,  this  bright, 
independent,  lovely  young  woman.  She  pleased  the 
eye  and  rested  it.  There  would  have  been  perfect  com- 
fort in  her  presence  except  that  there  was  something 
so  animated,  perhaps  one  would  prefer  to  say  inspir- 
ing, in  her  appearance. 

"  Oh,  Miss  Mayfield,"  the  Governor  began  again, 
"I  —  er  —  wanted  to  see  you  —  I  mean  I  have  been 
thinking  for  some  time  that  I  —  er  —  Jupiter  !  "  and 
he  compared  his  watch  with  the  deep-toned  clock  that 
rang  out  its  chimes  from  the  mantel. 

"  Some  other  hour,  I  presume,"  Dorothea  sug- 
gested ;  "  you  have  a  business  appointment  ?  " 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  17 

"  Thank  you  ;  yes,  exactly.  Ye're  very  consider- 
ate. Yes,  I'm  expecting  my  attorney,  old  Hartley, 
you  know,  not  my  secretary.  Can  I  have  a  talk  with 
you  to-day  soon's  he's  gone  ?  " 

"Whenever  you  ring,  certainly,"  she  replied,  re- 
tiring. 

Left  alone  a  moment  Governor  Randall  spoke  his 
thoughts,  presumably  to  the  figure  of  himself  in  the 
great  mirror. 

"  Beautiful  young  woman  !  My  house  never  went 
on  so  well  as  since  she  took  charge  of  it.  Ah  — 
well  "  —  in  further  soliloquy,  returning  to  his  papers, 
"  How  much  am  I  worth,  anyway  ?  Hard  cash  is  one 
thing ;  but  this  stuff  — •  we  have  got  stuff  enough  if 
turned  into  cash  —-  wa'al,  last  reckoning  nigh  thirty- 
five  million." 

How  much  was  he  worth  ?  Was  he  worth,  that  is, 
worthy  of,  Dorothea  Mayfield?  A  young  girl  and 
millions  of  money?  Was  that,  then,  the  line  of 
thought?  Interesting,  to  say  the  least,  this  connec- 
tion between  woman's  youth  and  old  age's  millions. 
Did  she  suspect  it  ?  Decidedly  not.  You  are  sure 
of  that  much  as  you  recall  her  innocent  face. 

"  Judge  Hartley,  sir,"  was  Dennis's  announcement, 
as  he  opened  the  door. 

"  Yes,  send  the  old  dog  in,"  snapped  out  Governor 
Randall  in  a  low  tone,  his  whole  air  instantly  chan- 
ging to  that  of  the  hard  man  of  the  world  on  the 
defensive. 


18  NONE   SUCH? 

Dennis  ushered  in  Judge  Hartley  about  as  ungra- 
ciously as  his  master  had  seemed  to  bid  him. 

"  I  wish  you  the  best  of  health,  Governor  Ran- 
dall," said  the  lawyer. 

"Ain't  a  bit  well.  I'm  eighty  years  old  to-day. 
That's  getting  to  be  too  much,"  was  the  rich  man's 
response. 

"  Pooh,  pooh  !  there's  not  a  business  man  in  all  New 
England  that  turns  off  more  work  than  you  to-day. 
But  do  I  interrupt  ?  I  understood  you  wished  to  see 
me  here.  Something  sudden,  that  couldn't  wait  for 
office  hours  ?  " 

Now,  here  is  a  square  man,  this  Judge  Hartley, 
Attorney,  stopping  midway  between  door  and  desk, 
holding  his  silk  hat  in  crossed  hands  before  him. 
Square  on  the  surface  of  things,  say,  as  to  shoulders, 
chest,  hips,  even  to  his  shoes  ;  everything  square.  He 
shows  a  set  of  white  teeth  as  he  smiles,  through  his 
square-cut  mustache  and  whiskers,  a  square  smile. 
Everything  is  square  about  him  except  his  high  fore- 
head, which  retreats.  You  are  sure  about  "  The 
Squire,"  even  though  you  may  have  had  no  dealings 
with  him ;  and  you  wonder  that  the  aged  client  seems 
not  to  regard  this  attorney  of  his  vast  affairs  quite  as 
you  do.  For  Governor  Randall  hesitates  and  glares 
at  his  visitor  during  an  interval  that  is  becoming 
embarrassing. 

"  I  sent  for  you,"  warily  yet  sharply  spoke  Randall 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  19 

at  length,  and  by  way  of  explanation.  "  Have  a 
cigar,  Judge  ?  " 

"  Too  strong  for  me,  Governor.  Allow  me,"  re- 
plied the  lawyer,  taking  a  cigar  from  his  own  pocket 
and  lighting  it.  "  Milder  "  —  between  puffs.  "  You're 
hardier  —  than  I  —  with  twenty-one  years  in  my 
favor."' 

"  Fifty -nine  ?  That's  all  you  are  ?  By  George  ! 
time's  against  me  hard.  Why  couldn't  the  Almighty 
make  my  bones  and  nerves  to  last  equal  to  my  head- 
piece ?  Judge,  look  at  me."  Rising  to  his  feet,  the 
Governor  stood  with  straddled  legs.  "  I'm  weaken- 
ing on  my  pins,  but  here,"  rapping  his  forehead,  "  I'm 
sound  as  rock-maple  !  Oh,  you  mere  boy  !  Listen  ; 
I've  got  plans  far-reaching  enough  to  double  ev-ry 
dollar  I've  got,  if  I  only  had  your  youth  !  " 

Laughing,  the  attorney  answered,  "I'm  a  grand- 
father. My  dead  daughter's  child's  " 

"  Yes.  There's  another  sore  spot."  The  \vords 
came  like  a  sharp  cry  of  pain.  "  I've  got  not  a  chick 
nor  a  mate."  Then  the  old  man's  eyes  showed  their 
depth  of  feeling,  as  the  speaker  turned  and  looked 
at  a  woman's  portrait  just  above  his  desk.  "  The 
Lord  bless  her  very  picture !  Sweet  face,  Judge,  on 
the  walls  of  this  solitary  house.  Ain't  those  wonder- 
ful eyes?" 

Gazing  at  the  portrait,  forgetting  all  else,  what  a 
change  had  come  over  this  man  of  power  and  moods ! 


20  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Mrs.  Randall  was  a  very  lovely  lady,  sir,"  an- 
swered Judge  Hartley.  "  Remember  her  stately 
appearance  perfectly  on  your  inauguration  day  Sir. 
Painted  about  that  time  ?  " 

Governor  Randall  was  turning  up  and  down  the 
room  now  with  nervous  strides.  He  made  no  reply. 
Turn  on  turn  he  took,  his  long  arms  clasped  behind 
him.  Then  he  stood  stone  still  before  the  pictured 
face  of  the  dead.  His  lips  moyed,  but  perhaps  it  was 
with  emotion  only.  At  length  he  struck  his  own 
forehead  sharply  and  cried,  "  Corne  back,  come  back, 
Randall !  Excuse  my  calling  myself  back,  Hartley. 
I  have  to  talk  to  myself  here  in  this  big  house,  except 
when  Clarkson  comes  in.  Think  I'd  get  talking 
enough  in  the  city  all  day  ?  Bah  !  By  George,  it's 
all  dollar  talk  there !  Excuse  my  walking.  Some- 
thing is  on  my  mind,  hot." 

"You  don't  hesitate  to  confide  in  your  old  attor- 
ney?" 

uN-n-o-o,  Y-y-e-s.  Fact  is,  eighty  years  old  this 
day.  I'm  getting  through." 

"  I  hope  you  have  many  " 

"Tain't  so.  You  know 'tain't,"  broke  in  Randall. 
"  That's  bosh.  You'n  I  can  afford  to  talk  sense." 
Almost  reverently  he  was  now  speaking,  with  deep 
feeling,  kindling  to  passion. 

"  Great  Heaven !  I'd  give  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  By  George,  a  million  !  Yes,  I'd  step  right  up 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  21 

to  this  table  under  my  fist  and  sign  two  checks  on 
the  Commercial  and  Park  Banks  respectively,  —  so's 
not  to  embarrass  either  one  of  them,  —  for  a  million 
each."  He  stopped,  sternly  staring,  with  his  thin 
visage,  on  his  lawyer,  while  his  clenched  hand 
thundered  down  on  the  table. 

"  For  what,  Mr.  Randall,  would  you  give  so  great 
a  sum,  a  thirty-fifth  of  your  estate,  I  should  say  ? '' 
the  lawyer  with  suspicious  aspect  eagerly  asked, 
leaning  forward. 

"  For  ten  years  taken  off  my  age  !  " 

"  You  are  indeed  ill,  Governor.  Our  age  ?  We 
aging  men  must  sternly  put  that  fact  out  of  mind  if 
we  would  be  happy." 

"  Out  of  mind?     No  longer,  —  at  eighty,  and  when* 
one  has  not  made  a  will."     And  now  both  hands  were 
thrust  into  his  pockets,  as  the  Governor  tossed  his 
white  head  and  turned  away. 

"Oh,  ah,  true!  That  is,  unless  you're  willing  our 
excellent  courts  appoint  an  administrator  after  you 
are  gone." 

The  Governor  simply  stared  hard  and  suspiciously 
at  the  lawyer.  Then,  after  an  interval,  he  exploded 
with,  — 

"  Excellent  courts !  There  ain't  a  judge  whose 
selling  price  I  haven't  got  in  my  pocket  memoran- 
dum, and  I  suppose  it's  something  off  to  the  trade  to 
you  lawyers." 


22  NONE  SUCH? 

Squire  Hartley  caught  his  breath  beneath  his 
square  mustache.  But  still  it  is  not  worth  while  to 
mind  trifles  when  one  is  on  a  large  salary.  Better 
swallow  the  insult.  It  is  not  the  deference  we  pay 
to  the  man,  but  to  the  capital  that  pays  us  the  salary. 

"  You  wanted  me  about  your  will  ?  "  at  length  in- 
quired the  Judge.  "That's  rational.  You'll  die 
none  the  sooner.  Let's  begin." 

"  All  right.  You  furnish  ideas,  and  I'll  furnish 
dollars."  Governor  Randall  came  back  to  his  chair 
at  once. 

"  Excuse  me,"  objected  Judge  Hartley,  straighten- 
ing back  from  the  paper  and  table.  "  It  is  your 
wealth,  not  mine."  He  picked  up  the  cigar  that  he 
kad  laid  on  the  table  with  an  air  that  said  :  "  This  is 
the  same  old  sticker  of  the  last  twenty  years.  Don't 
know  what  to  do  with  his  millions." 

Governor  Randall  suddenly  became  conscious  of 
John  Clarkson,  who  was  sitting  by  the  sunlit  window, 
and  flung  this  at  him  :  "  What  would  you  do,  Clark- 
son,  with  thirty-five  million,  a  lonely  old  stick  like 
me?" 

Clarkson  whirled  about  and  growled :  "  Gee  Whit- 
aker !  Advertise  in  the  Sunday  papers  an'  see  how 
easy  any  feller  can  answer  ye." 

"  Clarkson,  Clarkson,  you're  a  sad  old  rogue. 
You're  a  dear  old  boy,  though.  But  I'm  busy  now. 
Wait  for  me  outside,  Avon't  ye  ?  " 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  28 

"  Yes,  siree,"  was  the  response,  as  Clarkson  took 
his  hint  and  stumped  out. 

"Remote  kindred?"  resumed  Judge  Hartley,  to 
get  business  going  again. 

"  Not  a  soul  on  earth,  Judge.  When  a  rich  man's 
dead's  when  the  cousins  pop  up  like  woodchucks 
about  sundown  looking  for  five-leaf  clover." 

The  Judge  can  only  smile  and  wait  good-naturedly. 

"  Now,  see  here,  supposing  I  was  five  and  twenty," 
at  length  Governor  Randall  resumed. 

"  That  is,  the  orphan,  friendless  clerk  again  in  old 
Hanover  Street." 

"Exactly."  Then  turning  away  in  rumination  the 
millionaire  went  on,  "  Aching  to  get  married  to  Anna, 
waiting  for  me  up  on  the  farm,  and  I  couldn't  afford 
it  year  after  year." 

"  But  by  closest  economy  accumulating  the  little 
capital  to  make  the  beginnings  of  this  vast  for- 
tune, in  lumber,"  put  in  the  lawyer,  familiar  with  the 
biography  to  the  smallest  detail. 

"  Closest  economy !  "  echoed  Governor  Randall. 
"That  is  no  word  for  it!  Starving  body  and  soul 
apart,  judge.  But,  by  George,  I  got  'em,  I  got  'em ! 
The  few  nest-eggs  that  give  me  my  start.  Those 
days  the  blue  bloods  from  Beacon  Hill  wouldn't 
have  wiped  their  feet  on  the  poor  clerk.  Now 
they  take  off  their  hats  to  me  in  more'n  one  of 
my  banks." 


24  NONE  SUCH  ? 

"  And  you  lived  to  be  offered  a  nomination  to  the 
Presidency  of  the  United  States  by  a  great  party,  to 
be  our  Governor,  to  count  your  millions,  —  and,  best 
of  all,  to  wed  your  Anna." 

Shrewd,  square  man,  this  attorney,  who  can  touch 
the  right  chords  and  make  no  discords. 

"  Yes,  but  most  of  the  wealth  came  too  late.  If  I'd 
had  it  young  enough  to  enjoy  it,  before  I  got  stiff 
jointed  and  grinding  greedy  !  I  can't  now,  at  my 
time  o'  life,  learn  to  like  books  and  the  refinements 
of  travel,  or  even  my  horses.  If  I'd  only  had  my 
wealth  all  saved,  sawed,  stacked,  and  seasoned  like  a 
pile  of  cord  wood,  when  Anna  and  the  boy  were 
here ! "  The  rich  man's  eyes  now  found  another 
portrait  on  the  wall.  "  That's  he,  twelve  year  old. 
Handsome  little  chap  !  "  And  Governor  Randall  got 
up  from  the  chair  and  moved  toward  the  picture 
opposite. 

"  I  never  saw  the  soft  side  of  Randall  before," 
murmured  the  Judge  under  his  breath.  Then  aloud 
to  his  employer,  "  Yes,  sir,  only  child,  I  believe." 

"  I  was  too  busy  to  know  much  about  him,"  Gov- 
ernor Randall  went  on,  at  the  same  time  lifting  some 
silken  stuff  that  half  hid  the  picture.  "  The  Lord 
forgive  the  fool  I  was.  In  the  parlor  that's  him 
when  his  mother  sent  him  to  Harvard.  But  this  — I 
keep  it  covered,  it  goes  to  my  heart  so.  Ah,  that's 
as  he  was  Colonel  of  that  crack  Maine  regiment." 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  25 

He  stood  beholding  the  face  of  his  son  in  a  long 
silence. 

"I  recall  Col.  Robert's  heroic  death,"  said  the 
lawyer  in  a  dry  tone.  "  It  thrilled  the  whole  State, 
sir."  The  square  man  spoke  squarely  every  time. 
He  could  not  speak  tenderly. 

"  Ah,"  exclaimed  the  rich  man,  shaking  his  thin 
fingers  at  the  picture,  "  he  should  be  here  —  begging 
Heaven's  pardon  for  saying  it  —  to  inherit  what  I've 
got,  and  'twould  be  living  my  life  over  again,  without 
my  grind,  and  with  more  pleasure,  and  with  a  better 
start  than  I  ever  had.  See? — Miss  May  field,  don't 
draw  the  blinds  in  there  yet,  please."  For  he  caught 
sight  of  the  young  housekeeper  moving  across  the 
great  parlors,  as  if  to  shut  out  the  advancing  sunlight 
which  she  had  early  let  into  the  dark  and  silent 
rooms.  "  Come  and  see  yourself,  my  dear,"  he  went 
on,  sliding  nervously  to  her  side. 

"  That  is  your  son,  I  know,"  Dorothea  answered, 
accompanying  him,  till  they  stood  before  the  portrait. 

"  How  d'ye  know,  child  ?  I've  never  said  a  word 
to  you  about  the  boy.  I'm  all  buried  up  in  business, 
making  millions  on  millions.  And  all  for  whom? 
This  birthday  of  mine  has  stirred  up  the  old  man's 
soul,  like  a  walking-stick  in  a  spring  of  water.  Come 
now,  for  what  and  whom?"  He  drew  her  arm 
through  his  with  the  grace  that  would  become  a 
courtier,  and  which  was  always  natural  to  Governor 


26  NONE  SUCH? 

Randall  in  his  kindly  moods.  "  For  whom  and  for 
what  have  I  been  making  millions  on  millions?" 
Dorothea  blushed  under  the  strange  tenderness  in  his 

% 

gaze.     This  was  to  her  all  new  and  surprising. 

"You  gave  at  that  time  a  hundred  thousand  dollars 
to  Christian  and  Sanitary  Commissions,  the  wounded 
on  the  field  of  battle,"  said  Judge  Hartley,  now  fol- 
lowing the  pair  with  suspicion  in  every  step. 

Governor  Randall  did  not  heed  the  lawyer,  but 
went  on  meditatively :  "  Rob  looked  like  me,  they 
say,  Miss  Mayfield.  Oh,  let  me  think  —  think  — 
Would  have  been  myself  over  again.  Now,  if  I 
could  find  another  Rob,  that  is,  another  as  near  like 
me,  only  rather  improved  on  the  old  pattern,  when  I 
was  down  on  Hanover  Street ;  poor,  but  with  a  good 
education,  as  I  hadn't,  a  fellow  whom  money  wouldn't 
spoil ! " 

"  I  see.  You  have  an  adoption  in  mind,"  Hartley 
interrupted. 

"  'Tain't  that.  It's  more  selfish.  I  want  Hezekiah 
Randall  over  again,  living  on  earth,  second  growth 
from  the  old  stump,  and  getting  more  enjoyment  out 
of  his  money." 

"You  will  have  this  young  person  change  his 
name  ? "  asked  the  lawyer,  persisting. 

"  What  young  person  ?  "  the  Governor  sharply 
demanded,  turning  for  the  first  time  to  glare  at 
Hartley,  though  through  moist  eyes. 


TIIEEE   WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  27 

"Oh,  I  thought  you  were  prepared  to  designate 
your  legatee." 

"  Look  here,  Judge,"  said  Governor  Randall, 
shaking  a  finger  of  his  disengaged  hand,  "  you  don't 
get  any  name  out  of  me.  It's  law  I  want  of  you. 
•I'll  write  in  the  name."  Aside  he  added  as  if  only 
Dorothea's  pretty  ear  could  hear  as  he  bent :  "  I  have 
not  forgot  my  old  friends,  Stewart  and  Tilden,  and 
lots  of  other  dead  millionaires." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  was  Judge  Hartley's  obse- 
quious reply,  as  he  rubbed  his  square  chin.  "I  think 
I  get  your  idea.  You  anticipate,  as  it  were,  looking 
down  upon  the  earth  from  the  windows  of  heaven, 
as  Elder  Pitkin  was  preaching  to  us  recently  in  the 
office.  He  said,  you  remember,  worthy  man,  that 
departed  good  men  looked  back  to  enjoy  the  virtuous 
deeds  once  performed." 

Squire  Hartley  had  been  allowed  to  finish,  because 
Governor  Randall  had  been  busy  watching  Miss 
Dorothea  as  she  replaced  a  spray  of  smilax  with  a 
fresli  cutting  on  the  youthful  colonel's  portrait. 

"  That's  fine.  You  keep  it  fresh,  I  see,"  remarked 
the  gratified  father. 

"  Mr.  Horicon  has  just  brought  it  in  with  the 
other  flowers,"  replied  Dorothea.  "  You  do  not,  I 
fear,  pay  sufficient  attention  to  the  bouquet  he  brings 
you  every  morning.  He  is  much  more  skillful  than 
the  old  gardener,"  and  she  gave  the  final  caress  to 
the  festoon  with  a  blush. 


28  NONE  SUCH? 

"  I  suppose  I  don't,"  Governor  Randall  answered 
with  a  sigh,  and  turned  to  encounter  the  attorney, 
who  was  wondering  what  the  girl's  sudden  blush 
meant  that  so  enhanced  her  beauty.  Hartley  had 
not  been  near  enough  to  overhear  her  soft  voice  as 
she  spoke  of  the  new  gardener. 

"  Hullo ! "  resumed  the  master,  confronting  his  man, 
"  what  was  that  you  were  saying,  Hartley,  about  the 
Elder's  sermon  ?  " 

"  I  remarked  that  you  probably  dreamed  of  looking 
down,  after  your  ascension,  on  this  unmentioned 
young  man,  spoken  of  as  your  ideal  heir,  and  seeing 
his  happiness  with  your  money,"  with  a  square  smile. 

"  None  of  your  ridicule.  I  don't  know  about  that 
future.  Perhaps  I'd  enjoy  enough  here  on  earth  for 
a  year  or  two  more  in  knowing  I'd  got  a  good  heir, 
thinking  of  him  and  watching  him  with  my  earthly 
eyes,  if  I  got  him." 

"True,  you're  good  for  two  years  more,  I  guess; 
but  —  ahem  —  Governor,  why  not  found  the  Randall 
Library  ?  " 

The  two  men  now  returned  to  the  library  alone. 

"  Why  shouldn't  I  make  a  real  flesh  and  blood 
hero,  instead  of  buying  a  lot  of  Dickens's  and  other 
novelists'  paper  heroes  ?  "  demanded  Randall. 

"  How'd  the  Randall  Hospital  sound  ?  "-  The 
lawyer  is  determined  to  keep  at  the  making  of  the 
will  this  time. 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  29 

"Why  not  keep  at  least  one  fine  chap  from  having 
broken  bones  and  hurts,  and  sick  days  and  miseries, 
him  and  his  pretty  wife  and  babies  ?  But  you  know 
what  I  have  already  done  for  our  hospital  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  certainly ;  but  —  Randall  University 
would  sound  well." 

"  All  rich  now." 

"  How  so  ?  " 

"  I  know  it  by  the  signs.  I  always  know  a  fellow's 
getting  rich  when  he  talks  of  being  poor  and  wants 
big  money  more.  That's  the  colleges  to  a  dot!  " 

Squire  Hartley  laughed.  Was  he  pleased?  One 
would  say  that  was  a  genuine  laugh  at  last. 

"  But  a  great  university  bearing  your  name!  " 

"And  bearing  me  no  love,  forgetting  that  I  ever 
lived,  in  two  years  —  a  yard  full  of  Sophomores. 
Brick  walls  can't  love,  nor  remember,  nor  feel  happy. 
Brick  walls  can't  be  Hezekiah  Randall  over  again." 
Then,  after  a  turn,  the  millionaire  concluded  with, 
"  But  I'll  toss  some  college  another  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  I  want  my  man  a  college  educated  fellow." 

"  The  college,  the  American  college,"  promptly 
resumed  the  attorney,  who  thought  he  saw  his  long- 
expected  chance  to  execute  a  will  of  his  own  draw- 
ing, in  the  interest  of  Judge  Hartley  &  Son,  "is  a 
graceful  recipient  of  a  departed  great  man's  money. 
You  see,  moreover,  Governor,  that  even  if  you  pre- 
ferred to  be  forgotten  you  can  scarce  take  a  more 


30  NONE  SUCH? 

effective  way  than  to  give  a  small  sum  to  a  great 
college.  It  is  a  charming  oblivion.  Just  one  drop 
more  in  a  sea,  with  a  farewell  mention  at  their 
Commencement." 

"  How  can  they  forget  Randall  Hall  that  I  gave 
them  over  there  ?  "  sharply  demanded  the  giver,  his 
face  changing  as  with  a  spasm. 

"  It  is  but  one  more  among  '  Smith  Hall,' '  Brown'  and 
'  Robinson,'  '  Doe,'  '  Roe '  and  '  Memorial '  Halls,  which 
the  boys  shout  in  rival  ball  games,  or  the  furniture 
men  tag  on  deliveries  of  new  bedsteads.  For  instance, 
'  Andrew  Anderson,  No.  5  Randall  Hall,  one  broom 
and  a  pair  of  shoes,'  if  the  fellow's  credit  is  good,  '  to 
Room  No.  8,  Randall/ ''  The  astute  lawyer  watched 
the  effect  closely  as  his  words  worked  into  the  mil- 
lionaire's soul.  So  much  better  to  found  a  new  col- 
lege —  that  is,  better  for  Hartley. 

"  You're  right,  boy,"  at  length  the  Governor  spoke. 

"But  what  does  it  matter  if  forgotten  when 
dead?" 

"  I  swow,  Squire,  I  hate  death  !  It's  a  mean  cheat 
of  Nature's."  And  the  Governor  seemed  to  be  think- 
ing aloud  rather  than  addressing  his  paid  adviser. 
"  I  never  forgive  a  man  for  any  failure  except  the 
dying  failure.  No  man,  however  smart,  can  beat 
death.  If  I  could  live,  I'd  beat  the  richest  man  on 
earth  yet.  Why  can't  I  live  ?  I  swow,  I  will !  I 
will  live  in  some  other  fellow's  young  life  !  " 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  31 

The  reverence  and  fervor  with  which  the  old  finan- 
cier spoke  again  this  strange  idea  fairly  abashed  the 
astute  attorney,  who  leaned  back  in  his  chair,  ad- 
justed his  spectacles,  which  he  hated  to  use,  and  with 
lower  square  jaw  dropped,  exclaimed  to  himself : 
"  Is  he  talking  to  blind  me  ?  Is  he  crazy  ?  or  is  he 
going  to  marry  ?"  But  recalling  himself  quickly  to 
duty,  he  began  to  gather  up  his  papers,  and  said  as 
he  rubbed  his  chin,  "  I  presume  you'll  build  a  church, 
Governor  ?  " 

"  Have  I  not  built  one  in  memory  of  Anna  ?  " 
"  Evidently  I  can't  help  you  yet,  Governor." 
"  You  can.     Answer.     It's  law,  ain't  it,  that,  hav- 
ing no  kin,  I  can  name  any  one  under  heavens,  and 
drop  these  millions  on  his  or  her  head  ?  " 

"  Without  a  doubt,"  said  the  attorney  decisively. 
"  But,  Governor,  such  a  peculiar  paper,  traveling 
outside  lines  of  kin  or  usual  public  bequests,  needs 
time  and  care.  Leave  me  your  memorandum  of  all 
you've  got." 

"  No.  Right.  I  knew  I  could.  Here's  the  idea. 
A  straight-grained  young  chap,  name  blank,  to  have 
this  house  and  park,  horses,  carriages,  and  all  fixings, 
and  the  Boston  house,  and  income  from  the  mills  and 
railroads,  and  all  my  best  securities.  He's  to  be 
married  as  soon's  he  likes  anybody.  He's  to  enjoy 
life  and  raise  up  a  nice  family.  But  in  particular," 
and  the  rich  man's  handsome  face  shone  with  the 


32  NONE  SUCH? 

genius  of  invention  now,  "  to  try  and  make  it  his 
business  to  make  folks  happy ;  oh,  lots  and  lots  of 
folks  happy  !  But  all  this  I'll  put  to  him  when  I 
find  him." 

Governor  Randall  began  again  his  nervous  pace 
up  and  down  the  rooms,  leaving  the  lawyer  to 
himself. 

"Crazy  dream  !"  mused  Squire  Hartley.  "  Who's 
his  man?  It  don't  matter  though.  My  son  and  I 
will  draw  the  will,  and  what  a  man  makes  he  can  un- 
make, eh  ?  "  But  the  Governor  now  suddenly  stood 
before  him  again ;  and  hence  the  lawyer  spoke  out 
with  apparent  candor  :  "  All  understood.  I'll  have 
the  document  to-morrow  morning  here,  Governor." 
It  seemed  time  to  get  away  and  think,  and  so  the 
Judge  went  out. 

"  Clarkson,  Clarkson  ! "  called  the  Governor ;  and 
upon  his  old  friend's  prompt  entry  he  exploded  :  "  I 
hate  him  !  Stewart  used  to  hate  his  lawyer.  I  don't 
know  a  rich  man  but's  afraid  of  his  own  lawyer. 
But  what's  to  be  done  ?  He's  wound  all  in  and  out 
of  my  affairs  the  last  five  and  thirty  years,  sence  I 
picked  him  up  a  penniless  pettifogger.  By  George, 
Clarkson,  a  too  smart  attorney  is  like  an  eel  in  a 
trundle-bed  —  a  cold  comfort!" 

John  Clarkson  only  grunted  out :  "  Fergit  what's 
troublin'  ye,  an'  come  down  an'  see  my  taters.  It's 
a  good  while  you've  been  gone." 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  33 

But  at  this  moment  both  Dennis  and  Miss  Mayfield 
entered.  Dennis  handed  a  lot  of  cards  to  his  master, 
and  stood  attentive  while  they  were  being  run  over 
carelessly. 

"  No  friendship  there.  All  on  the  make.  Send 
'em  off,  Dennis.  Tell  'em  I'm  out,"  was  the  verdict. 

"  But  you're  in,  sirr." 

"  Well,  out  of  my  head,  then." 

"  Governor  Randall,  there's  one  exception  among 
your  morning  callers.  Excuse  me,"  interrupted  Miss 
Mayfield.  "  A  little  old  woman  who  has  been  here 
twice  lately." 

"  Yis,  sirr,  nate  as  a  pin,"  added  Dennis,  "but  looks 
poor  as  a  church  mouse.  I  offered  her  one  o'  the 
silver  cart-wheels  from  the  poor-box  in  the  hall  last 
week,  and  told  her  to  be  gone;  and  she  wouldn't  take 
an  honest  silver  dollar.  I  kin  send  her  to  town  in 
the  market  wagon,  sirr." 

"  Hush  !  "  commanded  Governor  Randall ;  then 
instantly  beaming :  "  Miss  Mayfield  ?  " 

"  She  is  evidently  a  lady,  a  retiring  little  thing, 
and  I  cannot  help  thinking  once  very  beautiful. 
She  says  she  used  to  know  you  years  ago.  Nellie 
Barnes." 

"  Nellie  Barnes?  "  queried  Governor  Randall,  rub- 
bing his  head,  "  Nellie  Barnes  !  " 

"  Sartain-ly,  Hezekiah  !  "  exclaimed  Clarkson. 
"  Don't  you  remember  Seth  Barnes's  leetle  gal  ? 


34  NONE  SUCH? 

t'  uster  be  swingin'  on  the  paster  gate  till  you'n  I 
kum  along  t'  go  cross  lots  t'  school  ?  " 

Tapping  his  head  in  sudden  recognition,  the  Gov- 
ernor replied :  "  Bring  her  in." 

A  genteel  little  body  she  was  indeed,  but  her 
weeds  rusty,  and  her  straight,  frail  figure  trembling 
as  the  millionaire  went  forward  to  take  her  hand. 
The  face  had  surely  once  been  exceedingly  comely. 
It  was  still  touchingly  interesting,  bordered  with  its 
wealth  of  snowy  white  hair. 

"  Why,  Nellie,"  softly  exclaimed  Governor  Ran- 
dall, now  taking  both  her  hands.  "  By  George, 
it's  seventy  years  !  Where've  you  been  all  this 
time?" 

"  The  usual  road  of  life,"  answered  his  visitor 
shyly.  "  Some  ups  and  some  downs,  Mr.  Randall. 
My  present  name  is  Holt.  Don't  you  remember 
Jimmie  Holt  ?  " 

"  You  don't  tell  me  ?  Yes,  I  remember  Jim. 
Licked  him  forty  times,  Clarkson."  The  Governor 
turned  his  head  to  smile  at  Clarkson  as  he  said  it. 

"  Yis,  and  he  licked  you  forty-one  times,"  protested 
honest  John. 

"  But  you  have  been  living  round  here  late  years 
and  didn't  come  and  see  me  ?  "  resumed  the  Governor 
with  charming  sympathy  and  protest  that  went  far 
to  reassure  the  widow,  as  he  beamed  down  into  her 
faded  eyes. 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  35 

"  Well,  in  Boston.  Fact  is,  I'm  very  poor,  and 
you"- 

The  rich  man  flung  her  hands  away,  yet  caught 
them  again  at  once.  "  I  won't  speak  to  ye  !  What, 
in  trouble,  and  didn't  come  to  Ki  Randall  ?  Get 
along.  Say,  where's  Jim  ?  God  bless  the  boy !  " 

"  He'n  his  boy  both  died  together  in  the  army," 
sighed  the  poor  soul. 

"  So'd  my  boy  die  there  —  and  Anna  —  you  re- 
member my  Anna  "  —  asked  he  with  faltering  voice. 
"  She's  gone  too."  He  pulled  her  towards  the  pic- 
ture, saying  nothing  for  a  few  moments  as  they  stood 
before  the  portraits.  "  Now,  Nellie,  I  alwers  remem- 
ber my  old  friends,  don't  I,  Clarkson?  This  is  John 
Clarkson,  one  of  our  old  gang  up  there.  Yes,  dear 
old  folks  !  It's  the  new  gang  that  troubles  me." 

"  Glad  t'  see  yer,  Nellie.  Heaven  bless  ye  !  "  said 
Clarkson  with  a  nod  that  was  hearty  as  a  bow,  as  he 
shook  hands. 

"  You  are  indeed  very  kind,  Governor,"  resumed 
Mrs.  Holt.  '*  I  called  when  I  was  at  my  wits'  end. 
I'm  deservin'  a  pension,  but " 

"  Pension  !  And  the  Government  won't  give  it  ? 
I'll  be  the  United  States  Government  for  a  while."- 
What  power  there  was  in  that  speech !  "  I'll  bet  a 
farm  Uncle  Sam  gives  to  ten  thousand  less  deserving. 
But  you'll  suffer  no  want  while  I  live.  That  may 
not  be  promising  much,  Madam,  but  maybe  it'll  do 


36  NONE  SUCH? 

in  your  case,  for  I  guess  we'll  both  finish  up  about  the 
same  time." 

"Oh,  sir,  Heaven  spare  you  a  great  many  years  !  " 

"  I'm  all  right  up  here,"  said  the  host,  tapping  his 
head.  "  It's  my  legs.  And  yet  I've  got  money 
enough  t'  be  carried  by  other  people's  hired  legs  a 
century,  Nellie.  Now,  you  take  off  your  things  and 
stay  right  here  till  I  can  fix  this  matter  up."  To  be 
sure.  Money  can  bless  as  well  as  curse,  can  it  not? 
and  fix  up  so  very  many  things. 

"  I  fear  I  must,  sir.  I  don't  know  which  way  to 
turn,"  replied  the  grateful  creature  through  her 
quick  tears.  "How  can  I  ever  thank  you  enough? 
But  I  must  be  given  something  to  do,  you  know.  I 
wish  to  earn  " 

"  There,  there,"  exclaimed  the  rich  man,  as  he 
cleared  his  throat  and  brought  out  his  handkerchief. 
"  Of  course  you  do.  You  must  earn  the  precious 
dollar.  Gracious  me !  I  wish  some  of  the  gang 
round  me  down  town  felt  so.  Earn!"  with  an  in- 
describable emphasis  and  almost  a  return  of  the  im- 
perious harshness  in  his  voice.  "Say,  Nellie,  old 
friend,  d'ye  remember  up  in  the  country  seeing  a 
hen  get  a  worm?" 

"Sir?"  the  woman  questioned  with  a  startled  gaze. 

"  Well,  old  friend,  d'ye  remember  how  all  the  rest 
of  the  hens  run  after  her  and  tried  to  snatch  away 
that  worm  ?  " 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  37 

"She  doesn't  understand.  You  alarm  her,  Gov- 
ernor," protested  Miss  Mayfield  with  inimitable  kind- 
ness. 

"  Oh,  not  you,  not  you,  widow  of  Jimmie  Holt,  a 
martyr  like  my  son."  With  deep  pathos  the  rich 
man  hastened  to  reassure  her.  "But  that's  the  way 
all  the  big  fellows  and  little  down  town  run  after  a 
rich  man's  dollars.  But  you,  God  bless  ye,  you  have 
just  a  perfect  right  to  my  pelf.  Jim  earned  it  for  ye. 
Now,  Clarkson,  you'n  she  go  and  take  a  walk  round. 
Remember  she  stays  here/' 

As  the  two  went  out  Dennis  was  heard  to  say, 
"  Begorra,  we'll  be  hevin'  a  house  full  of  tramps  here 
soon,  reg'lar  almshouse  with  hospital  attached." 

"  Miss  Mayfield,  I  want  to  see  you  alone,"  said  the 
Governor.  "  So  you  are  going  to  quit  my  service  ?  " 
he  began  abruptly,  as  soon  as  the  two  were  alone. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  have  taken  the  district  school  this 
summer,"  replied  Dorothea,  standing  fully  self-pos- 
sessed but  wide  awake  with  curiosity,  as  she  pressed 
her  pretty  knuckles  on  the  great  table  opposite  him. 
i  "  Like  teaching  better'n  the  care  of  a  great  house  ? 
Sorry.  Been  of  real  comfort  to  an  old  gentleman. 
Don't  know  what  this  pack  of  servants  will  do  with- 
out you.  I  can  pay  you  more  than  any  school." 

"  How  strange  this  all  is ! "  Dorothea  thought. 
"  He  never  converses  with  me."  But  she  was  quite 
self-concealed  as  she  replied,  "You  have  paid  me 


38  NONE  SUCH? 

much  more  than  any  school  can,  dear  sir.  I  wish  all 
men  could  have  seen  your  heart  as  we  just  saw  it 
shown  to  poor  Mrs.  Holt." 

"  But  teaching  school  is  not  being  out  to  service,  I 
take  it,"  the  man  rejoined,  ignoring  her  honest  com- 
pliment, though  it  was  plain  to  be  seen  that  he  felt 
it,  for  his  handsome  features  put  on  a  smile,  and  his 
eyes  fell  to  a  book  which  he  turned  end  over  end 
on  his  desk.  "Is  that  the  effect  of  graduating  at 
Vassar?" 

"  Sir !  "  for  that  was  too  familiar  and  not  in  good 
taste. 

"  Beg  pardon,  Miss  Mayfield.  But  honest,  now. 
Your  father  ought  to  have  died  rich  instead  of  fail- 
ing up."  The  steel-gray  light  of  the  hard  man.  of 
business  flashed  in  his  eyes  as  he  said  this.  He 
seemed  to  be  getting  ready  to  measure  wits  with  her 
as  he  did  with  men  in  trade. 

"  What  can  this  mean  ?  But  I  must  not  forget  I 
am  your  hired  housekeeper  till  the  end  of  the  month," 
she  protested.  "  Poor,  dear  papa !  He  was  your 
friend,  was  he  not  ?  What  have  you  to  say  to  me  ? 
Say  just  that,  please,  and  as  you  ought  only  to  your 
dead  friend's  child." 

"  Yes,  noble  man.  Bit  off  more  than  he  could 
chew.  Wanted  to  get  too  rich,  and  all  for  you  and 
your  mother,"  said  he,  ignoring  her  speech.  "  You'd 
grace  a  fortune,  Miss  Dorothea,  you  would,"  and  he 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  39 

searched  her  for  the  effect,  as  he  searched  all  men 
when  pursuing  his  point  relentlessly. 

Dorothea  wondered,  "  Oh,  what  will  the  poor  old 
man  say  next !  Is  this  what  Charley  was  afraid  of  ?  " 
She  was  less  alarmed  now,  because  her  woman's  pity 
for  an  old  man's  suspected  folly  came  to  her  rescue 
and  forearmed  her. 

"  Yes,  my  child.  Wealth  and  your  education  and 
good  looks  would  go  together  finely." 

"  Do  not  forget  yourself,  Governor  Randall,"  she 
flashed  at  him.  "  Remember,  I  am  hired  to  stand 
here,  or  I  shall  forget  it."  How  superb  she  was  as 
she  spoke,  this  penniless  girl ! 

"  Now,  don't  foreclose  on  an  old  gentleman's  speech 
till  you've  heard  my  proposition,"  he  pushed  on. 
"  You  ought  to  be  the  lady  of  this  house  " 

"  Excuse  me,  Governor  Randall,"  was  the  next  he 
got,  and  she  swept  out  of  the  room.  She  thought 
she  had  his  secret,  and  she  would  find  Charley  Hori- 
con  at  once.  But  had  she  got  his  secret?  Had  she 
read  aright  this  subtle  mind  which  no  one  else  could 
ever  read  ?  What !  when  Governor  Randall  may  not 
have  known  his  own  mind  ? 

Pushing  back  his  chair,  falling  into  a  deep  study, 
with  the  life  of  Alexander  between  his  hands,  the 
blue  eyes  searching  the  floor,  the  old  millionaire 
talked  to  the  air .  "  Now,  that's  the  girl.  This 
house,  my  horses,  the  carriages ;  just  think  how 


40  NONE  SUCH? 

handsome  she'd  be  in  her  landau  driving  in  at  the 
park  gates,  her  pretty  children  at  her  side  on  these 
lawns,  and  opening  the  Boston  house  I  have  not 
lived  in  for  ten  years,  and  then  going  to  Europe 
with  her  growing  boys !  By  George,  it  warms  my 
old  heart !  And  to  think  I  have  it  all  in  my  power 
to  bring  about  by  them  millions !  How  lovely  she 
is  !  How  fair  is  youth  !  I  swow,  there's  something 
about  youth  fairer'n  the  loveliest  day."  And  his 
eyes  peered  out  through  the  great  open  windows, 
across  the  acres  of  green  lawn  and  blooming  shrub- 
bery to  where  the  deer  were  standing  amidfield,  in 
the  new  shade.  "Fine  old  place  I've  got  here  at 
last !  By  George,  'tis  fine,  though ! "  he  mused. 
"  Cost  me  three  thousand  dollars  to  just  cut  down 
that  one  hill.  Everything  to  make  her  happy. 
Children  should  be  playing  with  those  deer,  the 
children  whom  God  gives  to  the  young.  A  hand- 
some woman  should  be  queen  here,  and  I  suppose  a 
manly  young  man  should  be  lord  here.  Now,  I  can't 
stop  the  running  of  yonder  river ;  but  I  can,  I  swow 
I  can,  take  up  that  pretty  young  creature,  and,  please 
God,  I  can  give  her  all  things.  Just  think  of  it! 
All  in  the  power  of  them  fingers,"  and  he  curled  his 
fingers  with  the  motion  of  signing  his  name  on  the 
paper  that  lay  under  his  hand.  Then  he  touched 
the  electric  bell. 

"  Dennis,  which  way  —  where  did  Miss  Mayfield 
go?" 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  41 

"  She's  on  the  tirrace,  sirr,  with  Mr.  Horicon." 

"Horicoii?   Who's  he?" 

"Mr.  Charles  Horicon,  sirr,  the  new  hortagecul- 
turist,  your  Excilliiicy." 

Stepping  toward  the  window  with  a  smile  on  his 
face,  the  Governor  asked  :  "  The  what?  Oh,  yes!  my 
new  flower  man,  head  farmer,  etc.  Never  saw  him 
myself  yet,  though  he's  been  here  the  three  months 
since  I  sailed  for  London.  What  did  Henderson 
&  Co.  say  about  him  ?  "  mused  the  Governor,  con- 
sulting a  huge  pocketbook  full  of  letters.  "  Charles 
Horicon,  aged  twenty-six,  been  a  sailor  boy,  graduate 
of  Aniherst,  also  agricultural  department  and  en- 
gineering department  of  Massachusetts  Institute  of 
Technology,  Methodist  minister's  son,  comes  from 
Chesterboro,  —  that's  the  next  town  here,  —  bright, 
genuine  lover  of  nature,  landscape  gardening,  bids 
fair  to  be  best  authority  on  roses  in  this  country, 
genius  for  civil  engineering.  Hem,  hey  !  Dennis  !  " 

"Yis,  sirr."  > 

"  You  say  Miss  Mayfield  and  this  young  Horicon 
are  friends  ?  " 

"  Hand  in  glove,  Guv'nor." 

The  Governor  gave  a  low,  prolonged  whistle.  He 
promptly  set  his  thoughts  to  work.  He  sat  long 
turning  the  volume  of  Alexander's  life  end  over 
end.  Then  the  great  clock  struck  again. 

"Yes,  indeed,  I  should  say  so,  pretty  late  for  a 


42  NONE  SUCH? 

busy  man,  even  on  his  birthday.  I  say,  Dennis, 
where's  John  Clarkson  ?  Happy's  a  lord,  hoeing 
them  taters,  I  suppose.  Got  tired  of  waiting  for 
my  play  hour.  Well,  I've  got  some  taters  to  hoe. 
Telephone,  order  my  car  and  engine  ready  at  eleven 
o'clock.  Gentlemen  waiting?  Invite  them  in." 
"Which  ones,  yer  Honor?  Room  full." 
"  Can't  see  but  one  or  two  of  them.  Tell  them  to 
come  to  my  office  some  time.  Clear  them  out.  All 
except  Dr.  Bland.  I  did  promise  to  see  this  old 
bore,"  reading  the  card^iloud,  "President  of  Alexan- 
der College,  and,"  still  reading  from  his  handful  of 
cards,  "  Rev.  Mr.  Oxford,"  wearily.  "  Show  'em  in. 
I  always  keep  my  word  if  I  die  for't.  Then  I'll  go 
out  and  see  this  young  Horicon  and  Dorothea  on  the 
terrace."  This  last  he  shouted  out  as  he  disap- 
peared for  a  moment,  bounding  up  the  stairs  like  a 
boy  towards  his  sleeping-room. 

The  king,  the  beggar,  and  the  millionaire,  they 
alone  have  supreme  privilege  of  impudence.  It  is 
sure  to  be  forgiven  —  except  by  another  king,  or  a 
pal  beggar,  or  a  competing  millionaire.  These  may 
resent,  but  all  others  must  forgive. 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  43 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  A  LAVISHMENT  of  almost  barbaric  splendors 
shines  around  this  successful  logging  king." 

The  speaker  did  not  content  himself  with  the  con- 
fines of  the  cozy  little  reception-room  into  which  he 
had  been  ushered  by  Dennis.  He  paced  on  and  up 
and  down  the  great  parlors,  and  through  into  the 
library,  that  home-office  and  workshop  of  Governor 
Randall.  He  carried  his  silk  hat  behind  him,  gen- 
teel Ambrose  Augustine  Bland,  LL.D.,  DD.,  Presi- 
dent of  Alexander  College. 

"  Hardly  barbaric,  Mr.  President,"  objected  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Oxford.  "Exquisite  vases  here.  These 
furnishings,  paintings,  marbles  ! "  And  this  gentle- 
man also  began  the  grand  tour  of  at  least  the  par- 
lors. "I've  seen  no  royal  estate  in  Europe  more 
nobly  laid  out  than  his  park."  The  visitor  paused 
before  the  great  windows.  "  What's  he  call  it  ? 
Glen  Theron  ?  " 

"  Which,  being  interpreted,  is  the  Hunter's  Glen," 
explained  Dr.  Bland.  "  Fortune  hunters  ?  "  with  a 
dignified  smile.  "  Oh,  money  makes  the  mare  go, 
gentlemen :  pays  artist,  gardener,  and  some  poet  to 
name  your  broad  acres."  There  was  an  unmistak- 


44  NONE  SUCH? 

able  accent  of  bitterness  in  the  tone.  And  why 
not? 

Here  was  a  gentleman  —  and  the  group  of  four 
presented  no  exception,  as  the  others  sat  about  the 
apartments  gazing  out  on  the  ravishing  landscape, 
the  parterre  of  flowers,  the  fountains  that  softly 
splashed  in  the  flooding  sunshine,  or  stood  studying 
the  volumes  of  disused  books  in  tier  on  tier  of 
shelves  —  a  gentleman,  Mr.  Rev.  Ambrose  Augus- 
tine Bland,  LL.D.,  DD.,  who  had  given  up  all  his 
life  generously  to  try  to  do  good  to  the  world.  His 
fitness  for  service  was  his  great  learning,  his  fine 
taste,  his  exquisite  sensibilities,  his  poetic  nature, 
and  his  goodness  of  heart.  Now,  here  is  one  man, 
my  readers,  who  could  enjoy  all  this  sumptuous 
establishment.  Every  line  of  history,  every  achieve- 
ment of  art,  whose  ripe  fruit  the  millionaire  had 
bought  and  brought  together  here  in  this  wonder  of 
architecture  and  landscape,  this  man  knew.  Yet  no 
such  estate  could  he  ever  hope  to  claim  as  his  own, 
or  enjoy  —  except  as  he  looked  over  the  rich  man's 
wall,  or  entered  his  mansion,  as  now,  on  some  errand 
or  invitation.  The  wonder  is  that  the  bitterness  did 
not  manifest  itself  more  unmistakably,  except  when 
you  remember  the  restraints  of  good  breeding, 
"plain  feeding  and  high  thinking,"  which  minister 
self-control. 

"You   are   refreshingly    outspoken,    Doctor,"    ex- 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  45 

claimed  Professor  Silverthorn,  librarian  at  Alexander 
and  curator  of  certain  hundreds  of  thousands  of  vol- 
umes, a  young  man  with  dark  long  hair  and  fine  eyes, 
now  that  he  takes  off  his  spectacles,  cleaning  the 
glasses  with  his  handkerchief.  "  It  is  to  be  hoped 
the  walls  have  no  ears." 

"Such  men  have  their  uses,"  continued  Bland,  still 
weighing  Randall's.  "  They  are  the  draft-horses  of 
the  world." 

"  They  have  no  fine  feelings,"  explained  Mr.  Galen 
Wilson,  M.D.,  who  affected  liberal  culture,  but  really 
was  best  known  to  the  world  as  authority  on  bones. 
It  was  by  bones  that  he  had  made  his  fortune ;  and  a 
fortune  he  had  made,  this  sandy-haired  little  doctor. 
Broken  bones,  if  you  please.  He  was  consulting  phy- 
sician to  the  great  Transcontinental  Railroad  system, 
of  which  Governor  Randall  was  main  owner. 

"  Look  here,  young  man,"  protested  Silverthorn, 
"  that  is  hardly  generous  coming  from  a  fellow  who 
has  made  many  a  fifty  dollars  testifying  ten  minutes 
in  court  for  these  same  draft-horses." 

"  Well,  I  mean  that  by  the  time  a  rich  money-getter 
is  fifty  his  nerves  are  ossified,  you  know.  He  may 
have  had  feelings  once  ;  but  you  can't  carry  feelings 
into  markets,  don't  you  know?  The  backbone,  that 
is  what  tells  there.  Now,  our  excellent  friend,  the 
Governor,  I  know  him.  His  marrow's  all  dried  out. 
What's  he  living  for,  anyway,  but  to  compare  an 
adjective  —  rich,  richer  ?  " 


46  NONE  SUCH? 

"  But  he's  a  bright  old  man,"  urged  Dr.  Oxford. 

"  Granted,"  replied  Dr.  Bland.  "  A  certain  rugged, 
native  talent  for  making  money,  a  gift  of  nature. 
But  soon  forgotten  amid  the  world's  great  construc- 
tional, philosophic  developmental  forces  —  amid  the 
ethical,  ethnic,  aesthetic  impulses,  or  spiritual  work- 
ings of  mankind,  such  a  man  is  of  no  account  except 
for  his  money." 

"  Heigh  ho ! "  yawned  the  Rev.  Dr.  Oxford,  sink- 
ing into  a  great  chair,  "  I  wonder  how  long  he  keeps 
us  waiting.  Perhaps  he's  not  living !  " 

"Who'll  say?  I  execrate  this  dancing  attendance 
on  my  lords."  Good  Dr.  Bland  spoke  with  the  bit- 
terness undisguised,  now  that  he  had  finished  his 
round  of  viewing  enviable  splendors. 

"  But  philosophy  must  pay  that  penalty,  as  Ju- 
venal says  "  — 

"  Spare  us,  Oxford,"  protested  Silverthorn.  "  We 
are  out  of  school.  What  do  you  say  of  our  chances 
with  him?  Are  we  agreed  that  I  propose  Randall 
Library  ?  " 

"  What  odds  to  so  old  a  man,  anyway,  where  his 
money  goes  ?  "  yawned  Oxford  with  upward  glances. 
"  Heaven  is  soon  to  call  him  home."  Thrumming1  on 

O 

his  hat  and  still  gazing  about.  "If  now,"  beginning 
to  preach  and  gesture  with  hat  and  hand,  "he  could 
renew  his  youth  like  that  picture,  which  I  presume 
represents  his  Excellency  in  his  youth,  if  a  miracle 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  47 

could  come  to  pass,  then  let  him  marry  a  young 
wife"- 

"  Which  I  hear  he  may  do  !  "  It  was  a  dry  bomb 
from  the  physician. 

"  What !  Shades  of  Pluto  !  "  exclaimed  Oxford 
aloud,  and  Bland  looked  aghast.  Then  after  an  op- 
pressive silence  the  president  groaned,  "  There's  no 
fool  like  an  old  fool !  " 

"  Yes,  such  is  the  suspicion  once  communicated  to 
me  by  our  learned  friend,  the  attorney,"  mused  Sil- 
verthorn,  his  face  broadening  with  a  mocking  smile. 

"  Tell  me,  Doctor,"  asked  Oxford  of  President 
Bland,  "  is  Judge  Hartley  really  a  friend  of  letters 
and  liberal  learning,  and  on  our  side  ?  Or  is  he 
playing  a  shrewd  game  for  Hartley  &  Son  ?  Who 
shall  say  ?  He  wants  to  be  elected  one  of  our  trustees. 
Ah,  here  comes  the  millionaire.  Now  to  tickle  his 
best  vanity." 

At  this  moment  the  aged  rich  man  burst  noisily 
into  the  rooms,  followed  by  young  Charles  Horicon, 
his  head  gardener,  and  Miss  Mayfield.  He  strode 
across  the  great  library,  flung  the  portieres  aside  like 
old  rags,  so  eager  was  he,  and  grasping  the  glazed 
doors  of  the  conservatory  beyond,  threw  them  open 
with  a  bang. 

The  long  conservatory  benches  were  not  yet  empty 
of  palms  and  exotic  ferns  which  could  scarcely  en- 
dure the  outer  air  so  early  in  the  summer.  The  effect 


48  NONE   SUCH? 

of  the  vista  was  superb.  Nothing  could  excell  that 
far  glimpse  of  blue  sleeping  mountains  beyond  the 
silver  river,  set  in  this  framework  of  Oriental  beau- 
ties. In  the  foreground,  marble  balustrades,  shining 
steps  of  spotless  white,  with  vases  and  statues  and 
fountains  placed  about  the  lawns  in  every  grace  of 
bronze  and  stone. 

"  My  lad,"  fairly  shouted  the  workhorse  Randall 
in  glee,  slapping  the  gardener  on  his  shoulders, 
"  here's  my  idea.  Cut  them  elms.  Then  grade  off. 
How  Mt.  Kearsarge  Avould  show  off  there !  hey  ? " 
Slapping  Horicon  on  his  back  this  time,  this  dray- 
horse  with  no  sentiment,  gentlemen. 

From  Bland  to  Oxford,  and  from  Silverthorn  to 
Wilson,  the  electric  shock  ran  round,  as  they  got 
themselves  into  line  and  took  the  view,  though  un- 
invited to  do  so.  But  Dr.  Bland  was  not  thereby 
blinded  to  his  errand.  He  took  in  the  view  and  also 
the  young  fellow,  Horicon.  The  youth  impressed 
him  most,  for  he  was  there  on  business ;  and  he 
soon  whispered  to  Oxford,  — 

"  What !  His  son  ?  Perfect  image  of  the  Gov- 
ernor as  he  must  have  been,  say,  about  twenty-five 
years  old,"  pointing  to  Horicon  apprehensively. 
"  We  always  understood  Randall  was  childless." 

"  Good-morning,  gentlemen.  Seats.  Excuse  me," 
Governor  Randall  flung  out,  for  the  first  time  noticing 
his  visitors.  "  Now,  Miss  Dorothea,  step  right  here. 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  49 

'Twas  your  own  remark  that  gave  me  the  idea.  You 
explain."  He  seemed  to  want  to  draw  her  into  the 
plan  more  intimately. 

"  I  think  I  catch  your  idea,  Governor,  and  Miss 
Mayfield  will  point  out  the  study,"  said  Mr.  Horicon. 

"  From  the  balcony  above  is  better  still,  Governor," 
remarked  Miss  Mayfield. 

Regarding  his  rough  boots,  Horicon  protested  :  "  Let 
me  put  off  these  soiled  boots.  I  will  join  Miss  May- 
field  in  the  vestibule." 

A  closer  look  at  this  Horicon,  reader.  And  yet, 
though  not  your  first  view  of  him,  you  regard  him 
sharply,  no  doubt.  You  note  his  magnificent  shoul- 
ders and  chest,  counterpart  of  Governor  Randall, 
except  filled  out  with  the  symmetry  of  youth.  His 
strength  is  everywhere  upon  him  as  he  moves,  in 
arm,  limb,  foot,  and  neck.  So  you  might  have  re- 
placed the  Governor's  nervous  energy  everywhere  on 
his  old  frame  with  the  strength  of  years  gone  by  and 
it  would  have  fitted.  You  might,  if  you  could  have 
performed  a  miracle  and  blotted  out  fifty  years.  You 
note  the  head  with  the  wealth  of  raven  black  curls. 
The  Governor's  curls  are  bleached,  the  only  differ- 
ence. The  Horicon  eye  is  black  like  Col.  Robert's 
in  the  picture.  These  are  "Anna's  eyes."  The 
Governor's  are  blue,  a  strange  anomaly,  it  must  have 
been,  with  the  raven  black  curls  of  his  youth. 
Charles  Horicon  has  a  gentler  face  than  the  Gov- 


50  NONE  SUCU? 

ernor.  So  had  Col.  Robert  in  the  portrait.  This  Hor- 
icon  looks  as  merciful  as  he  is  strong  and  brave.  The 
tone  of  his  voice  is  rich,  and  his  diction  correct  and 
cultured,  this  school-bred  farmer  and  engineer  gone 
out  to  cast  off  his  big  boots. 

"  Bland,  ho\v  are  ye  ?  "  exclaimed  the  Governor 
to  the  college  president.  "  Miss  Mayfield,  daugh- 
ter of  my  old  bookkeeper;  and  Dorothea,  this  is 
Rev.  Dr.  Ox  —  Ox  —  hang  it,  1  forget  names,  by 
George !  " 

Stepping  forward  and  obsequiously  bowing,  Dr. 
Wilson  volunteered :  "  Ha,  ha,  Governor.  It  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at  that,  with  your  vast  affairs,  differ- 
entiating and  bifurcating  and  articulating  so  widely, 
you  should  drop  a  name  into  that  great  sea  of  oblivion 
which  finally  ingulfs  all  human  titles,  when  bones 
return  to  dust  again."  Adjusting  his  spectacles,  the 
bone  specialist  took  a  look  at  Dorothea.  "  Allow 
me,  Miss  Mayfield  —  Dr.  Oxford,  President  of  Board 
of  Trustees  of  Alexander  College.  Some  'day  we 
hope  to  equal  Oxford  —  a  family  name,  you  see  —  by 
the  great  Governor's  munificence.  Yes,  yes."  Then 
chasing  off  after  the  librarian,  he  whispered,  "  A 
Juno,  Silverthorn  !  Let  me  present  you." 

"Hey?  Don't  be  too  sure,"  Governor  Randall 
flung  after  him.  "  I  don't  agree  to  make  another 
Oxford  over  here." 

"Ha,  ha,  Governor!   we  have  only  six   millions. 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  51 

You  will  double  it,  to  the  felicity  of  thrice  six  millions 
unborn  American  youth,"  said  President  Bland. 

At  the  same  time  Prof.  Silverthorn  and  the  physi- 
cian drifted  within  whispering  distance  of  each  other; 
the  former  said  under  voice,  "  You  and  the  lawyer  are 
right :  she's  captured  him."  To  which  Dr.  Wilson 
smiled  his  sapient  and  mysterious  assent. 

Dorothea  acknowledged  the  introductions  as  gra- 
ciously as  she  might  if  she  had  been  mistress  of  the 
house,  and  then  withdrew. 

"  A  vision  from  Raphael's  canvas,  Randall !  A 
kinswoman  ?  "  asked  Dr.  Bland. 

"  Hey  ?  "  replied  the  Governor,  decidedly  resent- 
ing the  reference  to  Dorothea.  "  I've  ordered  the 
car  for  eleven  o'clock.  Fifteen  minutes,  gentlemen," 
consulting  his  watch,  u  and  we  should  leave  here. 
What  can  I  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  Hear  this  money-god,  who  can't  spell  Aristotle," 
sneered  Dr.  Wilson  to  the  ^scholarly  librarian,  under 
voice  again. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  replied  Dr.  Bland,  following  the  Gov- 
ernor about  obsequiously.  "  Judge  Hartley  tele- 
graphed us  that  you  would  see  us  this  " 

"  I'll  leave  your  college  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
Come  now,  let's  get  away.  Ride  in  my  car  ?  "  said 
Randall,  moving  away  from  his  desk  as  he  shut  it 
with  a  bang. 

"  But,  sir,  fifty  thousand  dollars  is,  to  be  sure,  a  good 


52  NONE  SUCH? 

sum  of  money  ;  yes,  yes,  a  very  great  sum  of  money  in 
the  eyes  of  poor  literati,"  expostulated  the  President 
of  Alexander  College. 

"  Yet  not  a  mosquito  bite  to  what  you  hoped  for. 
'Tain't  much.  I  know  that.  Didn't  intend  to  give 
ye  much,"  said  Randall  with  a  smile  of  exasperating 
insolence. 

"  Of  course,  you  know  Alexander's  poverty,"  per- 
sisted the  hardened  scholar.  "  We  are  hampered  with 
only  six  millions,  perishing  as  it  were.  The  cause  of 
liberal  learning  languishes.  The  Republic  is  imper- 
iled, sir,  for  the  want  of  a  new  chair  of  aboriginal 
languages.  The  tongues  of  the  Aztec,  of  the  Iro- 
quois,  of  the  Algonquin,  languish." 

"  Tongue  of  the  Algonquin  languishin'  ?  Gra- 
cious, you  can't  have  visited  the  Club  lately.  Come 
on.  Here's  my  carriage." 

"  Certainly,  yes.  You  will  have  your  little  jest  at 
the  expense  of  us  poor  men  of  the  cloister,"  said  the 
president  fawningly.  "  But  may  we  not  hope  for  a 
further  interview  soon?  "  The  tone,  the  whole  atti- 
tude, of  the  man  was  almost  pitiable  now,  pursuing 
his  noble  errand. 

"  Jammed  chock  o'  block  with  work  for  a  month  to 
come." 

"  Yes,  exactly.  But  you  will  attend  Commence- 
ment? "the  scholar  pleaded,  though  his  changeless 
smile  was  now  quite  constrained.  "  The  President 
of  the  United  States  will  be  there." 


THERE   WILL    YET  HE   THOUSANDS.  53 

"  Have  you  snared  Grover  ?  Cleveland  is  shrewd. 
So  the  President  will  grace  your  occasion." 

"Yes,  sir;  and  we  would  like  to  honor  ourselves 
by  giving  you  the  title  of  LL.D." 

"  Let's  see,  how  many  of  them  things  have  I  got 
now  ?  They  cost  like  thunder,  though.  Me,  old 
woodchopper  ?  You  want  to  decorate  me  ?  " 

"  You  are  a  very  powerful  citizen,  an  ex-governor," 
resumed  Dr.  Bland,  taking  courage  at  once  and  bright- 
ening up  the  worn  smile  instantly,  that  smile  so  often 
of  service  on  like  occasions  in  the  last  ten  presiden- 
tial years. 

"  Well,  now,  I've  used  what  brains  I  had,  and  I've 
an  idea  I've  educated  myself  rubbing  against  men  as 
much  as  you  gentlemen  in  rubbing  against  books. 
Why,  yes,  I'll  be  there  and  sit  with  Cleveland  —  if  I 
don't  have  to  go  to  Chicago  about  a  deal  in  shingles. 
My  men  are  cornering  shingles  just  now.  Come  on." 

"  Thank  you,  thank  you,"  they  all  exclaimed  in 
chorus,  gathering  near.  "  Our  visit  has  not  therefore 
been  altogether  without  some  usufruct." 

They  stood  around  him,  all  of  lesser  stature,  and 
that  always  puts  a  petitioner  at  a  great  disadvantage. 
To  look  up  to  the  rich  man,  majestic,  keen-eyed,  in- 
telligent to  the  last  degree,  and  able  to  rend  men  as 
only  a  business  man  of  vast  affairs  can  ;  to  realize  that 
in  his  hands  was  power  on  which  learning  must  de- 
pend even  for  bread  and  butter,  yet  to  be  themselves 


54  NONE  SUCH? 

conscious  of  learning  in  every  branch  where  he  was 
as  a  mere  child  ;  themselves  knowing  historians,  poets, 
soldiers,  all  the  great  actors  on  the  world's  stage  of 
the  great  Yesterday  as  he  only  knew  men  of  To-day. 
That  was  the  sensation.  They  baited  him  again,  as 
they  thought  they  saw  him  hesitate,  about  to  bite. 

But  the  blue-eyed  millionaire  was  in  New  York,  did 
they  only  know  it,  in  Philadelphia,  in  Texas,  so  far  as 
his  thought  was  concerned.  At  that  precise  moment 
that  he  seemed  to  listen,  and  was  therefore  courteous 
and  apparently  considerate  of  the  degree,  he  was,  in 
fact,  wrestling  mentally  with  certain  giants  on  ex- 
changes miles  away,  modern  Caesars  at  modern  Phar- 
salias  and  Rubicons.  There  was  not  a  master  mind  in 
all  the  Republic  among  men  of  affairs  that  he  did  not 
know,  and  with  whom  he  might  not  be  crossing  swords 
within  a  week. 

But  they  were  all  waiting  so  deferentially,  and  the 
silence  itself  recalled  him  from  out  of  windows  and 
from  Philadelphia  and  from  Chicago. 

"  And  as  to  the  degree  ;  "  the  Rev.  Dr.  Oxford  said 
it,  coming  up  behind  and  putting  his  arm  through 
Randall's. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  the  millionaire,  disengaging  him- 
self, and  lighting  a  fresh  cigar,  while  lie  offered  the 
same  to  others.  Dr.  Bland  accepted.  Dr.  Oxford 
bowed  dissent.  "  LL.D.,  Doctor  of  Laws.  Hm  ! 
I  keep  'em  in  stock,  by  George !  I  don't  know  as  I 


THERE  WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  55 

ever  had  any  of  your  make.     How  do  you  sell,  eh  ? 
They  come  high,  but  we  must  have  them." 

Governor  Randall,  no  doubt,  rather  enjoyed  tanta- 
lizing these  educated  men,  whose  real  estimate  of 
himself,  by  the  way,  none  was  quicker  to  read  than 
he. 

"  But  —  but,  Governor  Randall,"  pleaded  Dr.  Bland, 
buttonholing  his  victim,  "  think  how  poor  we  are 
over  the  river  here  !  " 

"  Poor !  "  burst  out  the  Governor.  "  Why,  man 
alive,  if  you  will  pardon  a  plain-spoken  business  man 
like  myself,  as  a  business  investment  your  university 
has  too  much  money  to  be  vigorous.  You  are  like 
one  of  my  saw-mills  up  in  Maine  at  the  time  of  the 
spring  freshets.  The  water  sets  back,  as  we  say,  and 
floods  the  wheel  till  it  cannot  turn.  You  don't  show 
results.  You  are  filling  up  your  chairs  with  a  lot  of 
dreamers  who  try  to  make  themselves  think  they  are 
doing  something  by  dreaming  new  dreams.  Where's 
your  grist  of  capable  young  American  chaps  who  do 
something  after  they  leave  you?  " 

"Sir!     Most  excellent  sir!  "  protested  Dr.  Bland. 

"  Oh,  I  know  you  have  sent  out  some  men  with  the 
get-there  in  them.  But  I  assert  that  the  number 
does  not  bear  the  right  percentage  on  the  money 
piled  up.  We  business  men  begin  to  see  it.  We 
can't  use  your  product." 

"Why,  then,  do  so  many  clear-headed  men  leave  us 


56  NONE  SUCH? 

their  dying  bequests  ?  "  asked  Dr.  Bland,  who  alone 
seemed  to  have  the  courage  to  face  the  torrent  of 
excited  upbraiding  he  had  himself  provoked. 

"  Why?  Because  there  are  thousands  of  men  who 
hang  on  and  hang  on  and  hang  on  "  —  the  tall  form  of 
the  Governor  bowed  itself  as  he  emphasized  each 
word —  "to  their  dollars  as  long  as  they  can  hang  on 
to  their  breath.  Then  the  doctor,  here,  tells  them 
they  must  die,  and  they  toss  the  money  to  you. 
Why?  Because  they  have  spendthrift  sons,  or  be- 
cause they  think  you'll  honor  their  memory,  which 
you  don't  care  a  rap  for  after  you  have  emptied 
their  box.  Oh,  now,  that's  all  right.  Don't  protest. 
It  is  so.  Give  me  the  names,  now,  quick,  just  as  I 
can  give  the  names  of  my  largest  stockholders, 
of  the  men  and  women  who  have  each  dropped  a 
hundred  thousand  dollars  or  over  into  your  box  in 
the  last  ten  years.  You  can't  do  it  without  referring 
to  your  treasurer,  by  George  !  " 

"  We  are  glad  to  hear  your  views,  the  views  of  a 
practical  man,"  began  Dr.  Oxford. 

"  No,  you  are  not ;  pardon  me.  My  views  will  not 
have  the  slightest  weight  with  you,  except  I  make 
them  a  condition  of  gift  to  you." 

"  We  surely  want  to  do  good  work,"  put  in  Dr. 
Bland. 

"Now,  say,  do  you?"  demanded  the  Governor. 
"  Do  you  really  seek  to  make  human  happiness  in 
this  sad  old  world  ?  Or  is  it  science  rather  ?  " 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  57 

"  Happiness  is  not  the  proper  end  of  life  !  "  the 
clergyman  began  to  argue.  But  the  millionaire  shut 
him  off  with,  — 

"  I  vow  it  is !  I  am  coming  to  believe  that  to 
be,  and  to  help  others  to  be,  happy  here  —  mark 
you,  I  am  speaking  of  happiness,  not  mere  fun,  but 
real,  rational,  well-being,  comfort,  and  the  enjoy- 
ment of  this  life,  the  only  life  given  us  yet, — is  the 
true  aim  of  life.  I've  missed  it  by  indirect  activities, 
all  devoted  to  the  means  but  never  applied  to  the 
end.  And  I'm  free  to  say  I  think  lots  of  you  theo- 
rists are  doing  the  same.  There  are  benevolent 
machines,  that  is,  institutions  and  associations  of  one 
kind  arid  another,  enormously  endowed,  which  fail  to 
do  two  things.  You  don't  prevent  suffering,  you 
don't  spread  gladness  to  the  degree  of  a  fair  per  cent 
on  your  investment.  I  am  coming  to  believe  in  the 
individual  more  than  in  a  system  or  an  organization." 

"  We  must  work  by  machinery,  as  you  denominate 
it,  in  making  humanity  happy,"  argued  Dr.  Bland. 

"No,  sir,"  replied  the  Governor;  "at  least  not  as 
the  most  of  us  do.  It  is  one  by  one,  coming  near  to 
each  young  chap  by  himself  and  setting  him  up  if  he 
is  worth  it,  letting  him  know  you  and  touch  hands 
with  you.  By  George,  we  can't  grind  out  men  from 
a  machine  like  railroad  spikes  in  one  of  my  rolling- 
mills.  But  that's  what  you  do  in  your  big  college 
machine.  Do  you  know  the  boys?  Do  the  boys 


58  NONE  SUCH? 

love  you  ?  They  are  afraid  of  you.  All  you  do  is 
to  send  'em  out  with  your  brand  on  'em." 

"What  —  what  would  you  suggest,  Governor?" 
begged  Dr.  Bland. 

"I  don't  know  myself.  I'm  all  at  sea.  I've  got 
some  money  to  do  good  with,  but  I'm  trying  to  think 
it  out.  Now  I've  got  to  go. 

"  Here  they  are,  the  horses.  Come,  gentlemen,  take 
you  back  to  Boston  in  my  car.  Get  right  in  the 
open  carriage,"  continued  he.  "  I'm  going  across  the 
lawn  to  speak  to  John  Clarkson  a  minute.  I  shall 
follow  you  with  my  mare  there  in  the  buggy,"  and 
he  had  left  them  before  they  knew  it. 

There  was  nothing  else  to  do  but  make  the  best  of 
it.  Hats  replaced,  gloves  drawn  on,  the  party  of  the 
educated  stood  in  the  golden  sunlight  on  the  marble 
steps,  soon  to  enter  the  carriage. 

"We  walked  up,  poor  gentlemen,"  was  the  libra- 
rian's facetious  comment,  as  he  put  foot  to  step. 
"  The  ride  back  is  at  least  so  much  gain,"  and  he 
dropped  on  the  leather  cushions  with  a  philosophic 
sigh  that  had  a  dash  of  Socratic  derision  in  it. 

"I  feel  as  though  I  had  been  kicked!"  groaned 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Oxford. 

"But  if  we  get  the  millions,  no  matter,"  responded 

Dr.  Bland,  who  was  a  veteran  at   this   business  of 

money  raising.     "  At  a  million  dollars  a  kick  I  think 

'  I'd  be  willing  to  stand  behind  an  army  mule."     They 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  59 

let  themselves  quite  down,  you  see,  being  human  and 
having  been  knocked  down. 

As  the  vehicle  slowly  ground  the  gravel  beneath 
its  heavy  shining  wheels,  Clarkson  and  Randall  were 
seen  crossing  the  lawn  arm  in  arm,  Clarkson  eager 
and  happy,  saying  loud  enough  to  be  overheard, 
"  Ready,  eh  ?  You'll  enjoy  your  birthday  more 
lookin'  at  them  cowcumbers." 

"Your  cowcumbers?-"  protested  Randall.  "Hon- 
est old  friend,  I'd  forgotten  my  birthday  and  you 
already.  The  Lord  forgive  me,  but  I've  got  to  meet 
them  New  York  fellows  about  the  Transcontinental. 
Oh,  it's  toil  and  grind  and  seek  to  find  with  me  all 
the  time.  Good-by,  you're  far  happier  than  I,  you 
with  nothing.  New  York's  my  cowcumber  just  now. 
Be  a  good  boy  while  I'm  gone.  Blessed  be  nothing." 

Randall  bounded  into  his  spider's  web  buggy  whose 
maroon-colored  running  gear,  polished  ebony  box  with 
seat  for  only  one,  seemed  to  contrast  perfectly  with 
the  dapple-gray  of  the  big  mettlesome  roadster.  The 
groom  sprang  aside.  There  was  a  shower  of  gravel 
from  the  heels  of  the  plunging  gray,  and  away  like 
the  wind  "  the  old  boy  "  went. 

"  Geewhitaker  !  "  growled  John  Clarkson,  with 
worshipful  gaze.  "  He's  younger'n  any  on  'em  now. 
Don't  the  mare  dust,  though,  now?" 

"Hi,  Fan,  now  go!"  It  was  a  joyous  but  de- 
cidedly horsey  shout  that  rung  from  the  aged  rich 


60  NONE  SUCH? 

man's  lips,  as  his  steed  dashed  past  the  lumbering 
elegance  of  a  vehicle  which  he  had  provided  for  his 
guests.  "  Now  take  the  road,  will  ye  ?  "  he  shouted 
to  the  mare.  There  was  a  clear  two  miles  of  the 
finest  road  in  the  world,  straight  as  an  arrow  along 
the  flowering  borders  of  Glen  Theron  Park,  and 
beneath  the  flecking  light  that  fell  through  the 
maples  in  young  leaf.  This  stretch  of  drive  alone 
had  cost  Governor  Randall  thousands  of  dollars. 

"  It's  straight  —  like  me,"  he  used  to  say.  "  By 
George  !  thefe  landscape  fellows  can  have  their  ser- 
pentine ways  about  the  park  elsewhere,  but  between 
me'n  the  office  I'm  going  to  have  one  straight  racing 
ground  to  get  there."  Happy  ?  Perfectly  for  the 
time,  he  was.  It  was  the  burdened  man's  only 
recreation. 

"  Hi,  ho,  git  there  —  Ah,  now  yer  down  to  work  !  " 
he  shouted.  His  fine  features  illuminated,  his  old 
heart  beating  high,  his  long,  sinewy  arms  extended, 
how  gleeful  he  looked !  Gardeners,  plowboys,  and 
neighbors,  who  liked  him  though  they  disliked  him, 
used  to  stop  and  gaze  at  him  morning  by  morning  as 
he  flew  along.  They  were  glad  to  see  him  home 
again. 

"  Ther's  suthin'  good  'bout  any  feller  who  loves  a 
good  hoss,"  was  the  way  John  Clarkson  sententiously 
worded  the  neighborhood  sentiment. 

The    motion,    the    speed,   the   springing    roadbed 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  61 

under  the  spider's  web  wheels,  the  gossamer  harness 
fitting  like  a  dress  suit  about  the  swelling  neck  of 
the  mare,  the  glimpse  of  sparkling  lakelets  along  the 
grounds,  the  breath  of  the  morning  loaded  with  per- 
fumed life,  the  flight  of  startled  game  from  cover, 
the  bound  of  deer  in  rivalry,  and,  most  of  all,  the 
sense  of  freedom  from  all  men's  "  cackling  voices," 
filled  the  old  man's  heart  with  joy. 

"  I  guess  the  college  men  suppose  I'm  a  crazy 
loon,"  chuckled  Governor  Randall  to  himself,  at 
thought  of  his  guests  rumbling  after.  "  They  don't 
like  me ;  they  think  I  don't  read  'em.  By  George, 
there's  nothing  covered  that  shall  not  be  revealed ! 
I  know  'em.  Good  men,  self-sacrificing  men,  mean 
to  do  well  by  the  world.  But  I'd  ruther  chop  cord- 
wood  than  to  have  that  begging  task  they  must  keep 
to.  'Tain't  begging  neither ;  it's  all  right.  Got  to 
have  such  men.  Somebody's  got  to  corkscrew  rich 
old  money-getters  like  me.  But,  confound  it,  why 
don't  they  speak  right  out  and  say  :  '  Randall,  you're 
going  to  die  sometime  and  leave  all  this  stuff.  What 
are  you  going  to  do  with  it  ?  Give  it  to  make  boys 
and  girls  happy.'  I  swow,  Dorothea  Mayfield,  that's 
what  you  would  say.  And  I'm  going  to  do  it.  This 
young  Horicon  now  !  Looks  so  like  my  Rob.  I  won- 
der if  he's  in  my  way.  Whoa,  there,  now  slow  down, 
mare.  Well  done."  And  he  caught  sight  in  the 
distance  of  the  city  and  his  pile  of  office  buildings 


62  NONE  sucn? 

looming  over  the  roofs,  with  sobering  effect  upon 
him. 

The  landau  load  of  learned  gentlemen  had  its  com- 
ments, we  may  be  sure  also,  as  it  was  bowled  along 
the  drive. 

"  Why  so  glum  ?  "  asked  the  president,  clapping 
his  umbrella  smartly  across  the  knees  of  his  younger 
associate,  Silverthorn.  "  You  would  never  do  for  a 
money-gatherer,  I  fear." 

"  I  say,  let  the  pretty  schoolmarm  or  housekeeper 
have  him  and  his  money,"  responded  the  librarian. 
"  You  fellows  are  on  the  wrong  track." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  about  that,"  protested  Dr. 
Oxford,  leaning  forward  and  ready  for  argument. 
"There's  that  }roung  gardener  in  the  case  now. 
Fine  looking  chap.  I  saw  love  in  their  eyes  if  I'm 
not  mistaken.  What  do  you  say,  Wilson  ?  Diagnose 
the  case." 

"  There's  another  young  man  yet,"  replied  the 
physician  to  the  Transcontinental  and  trustee  of 
Alexander  College,  lapsing  into  his  favorite  air  of 
exasperating  mystery,  kia  youth  you  have  none  of 
you  seen  yet.  I  consider  him  the  danger  —  that  is, 
with  his  father  as  ally." 

"  His  father  ?  "  some  one  asked  it,  and  all  looked  it. 

"  Yes,  Squire  Hartley's  son." 

This  was  news  indeed,  and  grave  men  considered 
it  with  due  gravity  in  silence  for  some  seconds. 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  63 

Money-gathering  is  serious  and  diplomatic  business. 
Everything  is  to  be  taken  into  consideration.  A 
college  and  a  young  girl  or  a  young  man  may  be  in 
competition.  They  often  are.  Sometimes  it  is  the 
feeble  and  inexplicable  existence  of  a  pretty  little 
babe  which  stands  in  the  way  of  a  great  institution, 
a  waiting  residuary  legatee. 

"  Do  you  know,  gentlemen,"  at  length  the  Profes- 
sor remarked,  "  I  don't  like  this  business.  If  a  college 
or  a  church  or  a  hospital  or  a  park  or  a  library  is 
wanted,  why  should  not  the  money  to  support  it  be 
forthcoming  as  naturally  as  money  for  bread  or  a 
railroad?  For  my  part  I'll  do  no  more  of  this  work. 
It  is  unmanly.  I  feel  as  mean  —  as  mean  —  well, 
when  I  look  back  on  this,  my  first  interview  of  the 
kind  with  one  of  our  lords,  the  millionaires,  I  say, 
they  can  go  to  Timbuctoo  for  all  me  hereafter." 

Both  the  older  men  smiled  wearily ;  and  good  Dr. 
Bland  breathed  out  on  the  summer  air  :  "  Men  do  not 
know,  unfortunately,  what  they  ought  to  want,  of 
course,  and,  of  course,  what  they  ought  to  freely  pay 
for.  It  is  hard  to  do  men  good ;  but  they  will,  as  a 
rule,  pay  you  well  for  doing  them  harm.  All  good 
things  have  to  be  forced  down  the  throats  of  people." 

"  And  for  that  matter  we  are  not  humiliated  at 
all,"  added  Dr.  Oxford,  swelling  out  as  he  put  up 
his  silver-handled  umbrella,  and  held  it  against  the 
sun  in  a  hand  that  wore  an  exquisite  glove  to  protect 


64  NONE  SUCH? 

its  whiteness.  "  I  at  least  don't  allow  myself  to 
feel  so.  Suppose  Bland  and  I  had  gone  into  law  or 
even  business.  Would  we  be  dancing  attendance  on 
any  man's  gifts  to-day  ?  " 

"  The  thing  I  most  dislike  is  —  is  "  — 

"  The  flattery,  my  good  doctor,"  heartily  exclaimed 
the  librarian.  "  We  all  know  you  to  be  pure  at  heart, 
and  I  believe  you  fear  God  alone,  and  cringe  only 
before  a  sin.  But,  Doctor,  if  any  one  of  the  thou- 
sand boys  at  college  chapel  who  reverence  you  could 
have  seen  you  to-day,  bowing  and  scraping,  and  dis- 
tilling honeyed  words  for  the  ear  of  that  old  wood- 
chopper,  would  they  have  known  you  ?  " 

The  doctor  of  bones  and  the  other  doctor  of  divin- 
ity laughed  aloud,  while  President  Bland  blushed. 
Oxford  helped  out  his  friend  and  classmate  by  re- 
marking :  "  Professor,  you  are  young.  Wait  till  you 
have  built  seven  churches  and  begged  more  than  a 
million  dollars  for  causes  that  men  ought  to  have 
begged  the  privilege  of  supporting  on  God's  footstool. 
You'll  get  hardened." 

"  No,  I  never  will !  All  the  colleges,  hospitals, 
churches,  and  missionary  societies  of  earth  may 
perish  first !  And  I  am  not  going  to  fight  this  young 
girl's  chance." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  That  the  Governor  wants  to  buy  her  for  a  wife, 
and  she  will  sell." 


THERE    WILL    YET  EE   THOUSANDS.  65 

"  Horrible  language  !  " 

o        o 

"  Then  apply  it  to  yourselves.  You  sold  your- 
selves, and  offered  other  wares  to  boot,  if  the  old 
man  wanted  them." 

The  youthful  professor  was  too  high-spirited.  The 
Board  of  Trustees  may  hear  of  this  at  the  next  Com- 
mencement. Then  the  Professor  may  have  to  take 
his  vast  erudition  to  the  market-place.  To  the  mar- 
ket-place? Of  what  value  is  the  reading  of  all  the 
best  books  in  the  world  for  market-place  results? 
Governor  Randall  never  read  twenty  books.  But 
Randall  had  it,  that  rare  thing,  the  birth  gift,  the 
money-making  gift. 

"  So  you  think  the  Governor  will  win  against  both 
young  men,  Horicon  and  Hartley,  Jr.  ?  "  queried  Dr. 
Wilson  with  a  blinking,  mysterious  gaze. 

"  Yes;  such  is  the  heart  of  woman,"  replied  Silver- 
thorn. 

"  Oh,  ho,  you  recluse  bachelor!  "  groaned  Dr.  Bland. 

"  Well,  you  see  she  will  outlive  him.  She  will  be 
very  rich.  Then  later  on  she  can  choose  again,  for 
love  next  time,"  explained  the  professor-librarian. 

"  Choose  which,  Hartley  or  Horicon  ?  "  asked  the 
physician. 

"  I  have  never  seen  Hartley.  This  Horicon  is  no 
ordinary  man.  The  fellow  has  brains,  heart,  and 
vim." 

"And  for  that  reason  would  never  take  the  cast- 


66  NONE  SUCH? 

off  wares  of  the  richest  man  in  the  world,"  explained 
Dr.  Wilson.  "  I'm  free  to  say  I  think  such  scruples 
foolish  in  this  world  of  dollars.  I  would  willingly 
wait  for  the  handsome  widow,  that  is,  supposing 
there  was  no  Mrs.  Wilson  waiting  for  me  this  mo- 
ment, and  keeping  my  office  hours  while  I'm  off  here 
fooling  with  you  dignitaries." 

"But  you  haven't  told  us  anything  about  this 
young  private  secretary  to  the  Governor,  Squire 
Hartley's  only  son,"  said  Dr.  Oxford,  with  an  eye 
to  return  to  business.  "  I  think  I've  seen  him  about 
town  occasionally." 

"It's  a  curious  mix-up,"  the  physician  resumed, 
"  and  all  in  the  family,  so  that  perhaps  as  I  am  in  the 
family  too,  I  mean  the  corporations,  perhaps  I  ought 
not  to  speak  of  it.  I  only  do  it  in  the  interest  of 
Alexander  College.  But  the  young  secretary  is  in 
love  on  his  own  account." 

"  Yes,  with  Miss  Mayfield,  you  mean  ?  "  asked 
Dr.  Oxford. 

"No." 

"  No  ?  Well,  then,  that  eliminates  one,  fortunately, 
from  our  problem,"  replied  Dr.  Bland,  his  face  lights 
ing  up. 

"  Not  exactly,"  was  Dr.  Wilson's  rejoinder.  "  His 
father,  our  attorney,  proposes  to  make  the  match  for 
his  son,  whether  or  no." 

"  Well,  but  he's  in  doubt.     You  see,  if  Governor 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  67 

Randall  obeys  Hartley  exactly,  just  precisely  as  the 
old  Judge  has  wrought  it  out,  he  will  make  a  chari- 
table will.  Hartley  &  Son,  executors.  Another  case 
like  that  of  a  distinguished  merchant  in  New  York," 
was  soon  explained. 

"  Yes,  I  see,  I  see,"  sighed  the  president. 

"  And  in  that  case  the  boy  may  have  his  choice 
and  marry  the  girl  he  has  chosen.  For  he  will  be 
very  rich.  See  ?  That  is,  Hartley  &  Son  will  be 
rich,"  said  the  surgeon. 

"  She  is  a  poor  girl,  then,  the  same  as  Miss  May- 
field?  "  asked  Dr.  Oxford,  really  interested  in  the 
romance  for  itself,  as  pastors  learn  often  to  be  in 
the  kindness  and  quickness  of  their  sensibilities. 

"  On  the  contrary,  she  is  not  poor  now.  But  she 
is  not  very  rich,  not  very.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
one  of  our  directors,  a  Mr.  Sampson,  worth,  perhaps, 
a  million  only." 

"  Only !  Hear  him,  this  sawbones  who  rubs  against 
rich  people  so  much  that  he  acquires  their  lingo," 
laughed  the  librarian,  disposed  to  shock  all  hands 
still  more. 

"But  there  are  other  objections  to  Miss  Hennie 
Sampson,  a  charming  girl,  by  the  way.  She  is  very 
religious,  seriously,  truly,  philosophically  religious, 
as  all  our  circle  do  know,"  said  the  physician. 

"  And  that's  an  objection  ?  "  asked  the  good  clergy- 
man, sincere  amazement  sounding  in  his  rising  inflec- 


68  NONE  SUCH? 

tion,  with  which  his  gray,  bushy  eyebrows  sym- 
pathized. 

"  You  don't  know,  then,"  said  the  physician  with 
a  quizzing  side  look,  "  that  Squire  Hartley  is  what 
you  call  an  infidel.  His  god  is  a  dollar." 

"I  see  ;  and  a  sweet  Christian  girl  would  interfere 
with  his  tutelage  of  his  only  son  and  tool,"  mused 
Dr.  Oxford. 

"  Miss  Sampson  is  surely  a  sweet  but  not  a  Chris- 
tian girl  exactly,"  replied  the  surgeon;  "she  is  a  Bos- 
tonian  Christian,  perhaps  :  she  is  a  theosophist,  and  so 
forth." 

"  Exactly  !  But  if  the  Governor  should  marry  Miss 
Mayfield  ?  " 

"And  not  live  long  " 

"  And  Squire  Hartley  marry  the  young  widow  to 
his  son  "  — 

"  And  Squire  Hartley  would  succeed  practically 
to  the  thirty-five  millions." 

They  all  put  it  together  quick  enough,  each  supply- 
ing a  sentence.  Then  there  was  a  long  silence. 

"  And  my  young  protgge,  Horicon  ?  "  at  length 
queried  the  librarian  musingly. 

"  Will  be  smashed,  every  bone  in  his  body,  if  ne- 
cessary, to  get  him  out  of  the  way,"  explained  the 
physician. 

The  party  had  arrived  at  the  horse-block  of  the 
elegant  new  depot ;  but  Dr.  Bland  spoke  one  added 


THERE    WILL    YET  JiE   THOUSANDS.  69 

thought  which  seemed  to  well  play  the  last  in  the 
dialogue:  "  And  where  do  we  come  in  ?" 

To  which  no  one  seemed  ready  to  offer  a  reply. 

"  Are  you  going  to  ride  to  Boston  in  the  Governor's 
private  car?  "  asked  Dr.  Wilson,  about  to  turn  away 
to  some  reference  case  in  a  room  of  the  great  station. 

"  Why,  yes ;  we  fellows  have  no  fares  to  waste," 
said  the  librarian,  as  he  pulled  a  book  from  his 
pocket. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  president  also ;  "  but  we  will 
only  try  to  make  ourselves  agreeable.  Nothing 
further  without  you.  Good-morning,  Dr.  Oxford," 
for  the  clergyman  had  already  turned  to  walk  towards 
the  graceful  spire  of  his  church  far  up  the  aristocratic 
Broad  Street. 


70  NONE  SUCH? 


CHAPTER  III. 

MEANWHILE,  as  an  essential  part  of  the  history  of 
this  eventful  morning,  the  two  following  pictures 
demand  place  exactly  here.  The  reader  has  only 
to  look  back  to  the  south  terrace,  just  there  beneath 
the  great  oak,  which  flings  its  shade  over  the  drive 
and  the  whole  spotless  facade  of  the  mansion. 
Charles  Horicon  and  Dorothea  Mayfield  have  finished 
their  conversation  about  the  vista  and  the  changes 
at  the  east  end  of  the  conservatory.  The  young  fel- 
low is  about  to  pull  on  frock  and  boots  again  for  the 
field-work  he  is  superintending  over  by  the  lake 
garden. 

"  Now,  little  lady,  I  insist  on  talking  a  bit  of 
business.  I've  recently  saved  up  some  two  hundred 
dollars;  and  here  I  am,  let  us  believe,  in  a  permanent 
position.  Just  give  me  credit  for  two  hundred  dol- 
lars on  my  debt."  The  youth  handed  the  girl  a  roll 
of  crisp  and  clean  bank-bills. 

"  But,  Charley,  I  don't  need  it,  and  if  I  am  yours 
all  mine  is  yours,"  she  protested  as  she  shackled  his 
brawny  wrist  with  her  long  white  fingers,  and  held 
him  off. 

"  That's  charming.  But  you  are  not  going  to  have 
these  enormous  housekeeper's  wages  any  more,"  he 


THERE    WILL    TET  BE   THOUSANDS.  71 

urged,  touching  her  cheek  with  the  forefinger  of  his 
free  hand.  "  And,  besides,  I  should  despise  myself  if 
I  owed  you  money  on  our  wedding-day.  It's  my  turn 
like  a  man  to  earn  now.  You  helped  me  to  my  educa- 
tion, Heaven  bless  your  loving  heart !  My  first  wages 
I  repay  you.  The  meanest  man  on  earth  is  a  lover 
who  robs  his  sweetheart  of  money.  For  you  would 
give  me  anything,  even  yourself.  Therefore  I  must 
take  nothing  —  except  yourself.  Now  he  touched 
her  cheek  with  the  lips  that  said  it,  and  risked  the 
oak's  telling  tales. 

"  But,  Charley,  boy,  ought  you  not  to  go  to 
Europe  and  see  with  your  own  eyes  these  Blenheims, 
Fontainebleaus,  and  other  landscape  wonders  ?  "  She 
liked  his  protest.  She  did  not  probably  know  that 
she  expected  it,  but  she  now  knew  she  was  not 
disappointed. 

"  Which  I  have  only  seen  in  books  ?  Yes  ;  but 
with  the  pay  the  Governor  gives  me,  twenty-five  hun- 
dred dollars  a  year,  I  can  soon  go,  and  take  you  with 
me." 

"  Oh,  you  must  indeed  please  Mr.  Randall  now  that 
he  has  returned,"  she  cried,  and  released  his  hand  to 
clap  her  own,  whereupon  the  boy  promptly  thrust  the 
roll  of  bills  into  her  belt.  "  Tie  has  a  kind  heart. 
You  will  please  him.  It  seemed  to  look  like  it,  did 
it  not  ?  You  will  win  his  deepest  interest." 

"  You  have  not  found  that  difficult."     How  quick 


72  NONE  SUCH? 

is  flame  to  flash  and  fall.     So  quick   is  love  in  its 
ups  and  downs. 

"  Fie,  Sir  Knight,  are  you  jealous  ?  "  she  as  quickly 
pouted. 

"  Jealous  of  you?"  he  replied,  realizing  his  words. 
"  What  ?  never  of  you,  true  heart !  "  and  he  put  his 
arm  about  her,  despite  the  whispering  oak,  though 
they  evidently  judged  it  wiser  to  step  through  the 
low  window  into  the  library. 

"  No,  no,  we  have  waited  too  long  for  each  other, 
have  we  not?  "  she  said,  gazing  up  to  him. 

"  Since  we  were  sixteen,"  as  he  bent  low  to  her. 
They  were  always  reminding  themselves  of  this 
history. 

"  And  you  surely  will  become  the  most  famous 
landscape  gardener  in  the  whole  world ! "  The 
ambition  and  the  credulity  of  this  young  thing ! 

"  Indeed,  pretty  dreamer,  I'll  do  the  best  I  can  to 
provide  for  the  dearest  wife  in  all  the  world,  and  not 
forget,  when  some  poor  fellow  asks  a  helping  hand, 
that  a  brave  girl's  hand  helped  me." 

"  A  truce  to  that  hereafter,"  she  protested.  For  a 
true  woman  prefers  the  obligation  the  other  way 
with  the  man  who  is  to  be  her  Sir  Knight. 

"  A  truce  to  your  slaving  it,  out  at  service  here  or 
at  the  school.  I  wish  we  were  to  be  married  to- 
morrow instead  of  this  school-teaching." 

"Not  yet;  see  how  you  get  on  here."     This 
dent  Yankee  girl. 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  73 

"  But  you  will  surely  leave  this  great  palace  ?  " 

"  I've  given  my  notice  and  engaged  the  school, 
haven't  I?" 

"  All  right,"  he  sighed.  Then,  brightening  and 
resolutely  :  "  Now  let  me  show  you  my  plan  on  the 
other  side  of  the  house."  He  opened  the  windows 
at  the  opposite  end  of  the  library  on  the  beautiful 
river  winding  in  and  out  till  it  was  lost  in  the  dim 
sea.  Then  they  stood  silently  drinking  in  all  this 
beauty  which  an  "  old  woodchopper "  or  "  work- 
horse "  had  filched  out  of  the  racket  of  stock  ex- 
changes, railroad  junctions,  the  roar  and  dust  of 
factories,  the  sailing  of  lugger  schooners  bearing 
shingle  and  lath  the  world  over.  These  two,  young 
and  full  of  life,  stood  alone,  enjoying  the  majestic 
calm,  the  songs  of  birds,  the  pastorals  of  fountains 
and  zephyrs.  The  owner,  aged  and  gone  to  the  roar- 
ing city,  never  saw  what  they  saw,  —  no,  not  in  all  the 
fifteen  years  that  he  had  snatched  at  this  beautifying 
of  a  green  spot  in  an  arid  earth.  He  had  always 
meant  to  see  all  this,  for  he,  too,  was  a  poet.  But 
what  time  has  a  millionaire  to  see  anything  except 
percentage  and  a  foe  ? 

"  Do  you  think  it  wicked  to  be  very  happy  and 
wish  to  live  long  on  the  earth  ?  "  at  length  the  girl 
asked. 

"  Well,  now,  that's  the  last  question  I  ever  ex- 
pected to  hear  from  you,"  he  replied.  "  What  is  in 
your  mind  ?  " 


74  NOXE  SUCH? 

"  Because  your  father  is  one  of  God's  own,  isn't 
he?" 

"  Yes,  indeed.  If  there  ever  was  one  on  earth 
whom  God  owned,  it  is  that  bent  and  worn  old 
preacher  of  his  gospel,"  responded  Horicon  fervently. 

"  And  yet  such  men  as  he  rarely  ever  possess  such 
beauty,  such  elysian  calm,  as  all  this.  And  every 
thing  we  see  here  is  God's  own  make,"  stretching 
out  her  fair  hands. 

"  And  you  are  thinking  of  the  restless  money-king 
to  whom  it  belongs  ?  " 

"  Go  on,"  she  simply  said. 

"  And  you  are  wondering  if  it  is  God's  why  God's 
men  do  not  have  it,  all  this  beauty  ?  They  tell  me 
that  they  often  do  in  older  countries.  Very  often  the 
richest  people  are  the  most  saintly,  the  most  merci- 
ful, gentle,  refined,  and  spiritual.  Often  in  older 
lands  I  have  heard  the  wear  and  tear  of  the  getting 
is  several  generations  back,  —  some  old  soldier  who 
bought  the  ancestral  acres  and  paid  for  them  in  blood 
for  coin.  But  in  the  new  country,  where  we  all  start 
poor,  it  is  rarely  the  case  that  a  fortune  is  won  with- 
out spoiling  the  spirit  of  the  gamester.  His  children, 
now,  have  small  excuse  if  they  are  sordid  or  selfish." 

"  You  would  say,  Charley  dear,  that  it  was  the 
getting  of  wealth,  not  the  having,  that  is  perilous  ?  " 

"  I  think,  Dorothea,  that  chasing  a  dollar  is  hard 
work,  and  leaves  a  man  short  breath  for  poems  or 


THERE    WILL    YET  EK   THOUSANDS.  75 

fantasy,  to  say  the  least.  Didn't  you  see  what  chas- 
ing a  dollar  required  of  the  learned  gentlejnen  who 
were  here,  as  much  as  of  the  man  of  stocks  and 
bonds  ?  " 

"  How  will  it  be  with  you,  then  ?  "  She  gazed  into 
his  dark  eyes  searchingly. 

"  I  don't  expect  to  be  rich.  I  do  expect  to  be 
happy  and  live  long  in  this  the  grandest  world  I 
ever  lived  in,"  he  responded  with  eloquent  truth- 
fulness. 

"  Then  that  is  not  wicked.  Your  good  and  pious 
father  would  say  that  was  a  right  dream." 

"  Indeed  he  would.  He  is  poor,  save  what  I  give 
him, —  repay  him,  I  should  say,  —  but  he  is  the  happiest 
of  men.  If  he  were  here,  the  old  preacher,  he  would 
gaze  out  on  all  this  marvelous  landscape  and  claim 
it.  I  have  often  heard  him  say,  as  he  passed  a  rich 
man's  lawn,  '  The  other  man  pays  the  expenses,  but  I 
enjoy  it.'  And  before  a  grand  sunset  such  as  we  often 
have  over  where  he  now  lives  in  his  small  cottage, 
I  have  so  many  times  heard  him  shout  in  ecstasy : 
'  My  Father  made  all  this ! '  meaning  the  great 
Creator." 

"  So  that  if  you  become  a  famous  landscape  gar- 
dener and  earn,  oh,  so  much  money ! "  she  resumed 
with  girlish  glee,  patting  warm  soft  palms  together  as 
she  shaped  her  sentence,  "  you  would  do  what  with 
it?  Keep  it?" 


76  NONE   SUCH? 

"  I  never  shall  be  very,  very  rich,  I  tell  you.  It 
is  a  gift,  .the  money-making  faculty.  I  would  like, 
though,  just  to  go  up  and  down  this  earth  scattering 
a  fortune  where  it  would  do  the  most  good.  This,  I 
know,  also.  I  would  not  scatter  it  from  a  dead 
hand.  The  good  book  says  we  shall  be  rewarded 
according  as  our  works  shall  be,  not  according  to  our 
executor's  works." 

"  Look  !  "  whispered  Dorothea,  pointing  down  the 
winding  driveway,  where  two  men  were  seen  ap- 
proaching. The  alarm  she  felt  at  the  sight  of 
Squire  Hartley  she  might  now  fully  express,  as  she 
could  not  have  done  in  the  presence  of  Governor 
Randall. 

"  The  young  fellow,  Marcellus,  the  Governor's  sec- 
retary, does  not  appear  to  me  to  be  quite  a  chip  of  the 
old  block,"  said  Horicon,  his  features  sobering  as  he 
folded  his  arms,  and  studied  the  two  men,  Hartley 
and  son,  drawing  near.  "  I  never  saw  either  of  them, 
Dorothea,  till  I  came  here." 

"  He  is  wholly  subservient  to  his  father,  I  fear," 
she  replied.  "  He  loves  a  dear  good  girl  friend  of 
mine,  Hennie  Sampson.  She  is  rich,  but  not  rich 
enough ;  she  is  good,  but  too  good  to  suit  this  grasp- 
ing old  attorney." 

"  He  has  been  private  secretary  to  Governor  Ran- 
dall a  long  time,  I  think,"  remarked  Horicon,  turning 
away  with  a  determined  look.  "  Well,  they  are  about 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  77 

to  enter,  and  I  must  be  off  to  my  workmen."     And 
they  separated. 

As  Judge  Hartley  entered  the  library  a  moment 
later  the  housekeeper  confronted  him,  though  she  had 
not  intended  to  do  so.  He  glanced  up  with  a  sur- 
prised look,  but  instantly  explained  himself. 
.  "  Gone  ?  A  memorandum  probably  left  for  me  on 
the  Governor's  desk."  He  stepped  to  the  desk  and 
secured  a  bunch  of  papers  lying  there.  He  seemed, 
in  fact,  to  snatch  them  from  the  searching  hands  of 
his  son,  whose  business  it  would  rather  have  seemed 
to  be  to  go  first  to  the  desk  of  which  he  was  in 
charge. 

Formally  acknowledging  the  lawyer's  brief  saluta- 
tion, Miss  Mayfield  simply  remarked,  "  Of  course 
you  are  at  liberty  here,  Judge  Hartley,"  and  passed 
from  the  room. 

"  Ah,"  exclaimed  the  attorney  to  his  son,  as  if  con- 
tinuing some  argument  held  to  him  on  the  way  to  the 
mansion,  "  let  the  old  dunce  renew  his  youth  as  he 
says  he  will,  and  marry  her.  She  inherits.  You 
might  console  the  handsome  widow.  See  ?  " 

"  Oh !  "  protested  the  son,  starting  back  in  his 
chair.  "  But  you  are  my  father."  This  last  seemed 
to  be  the  softened  ending  of  a  very  different  sentence 
in  an  indignant  mind. 

"Well,  what  if  lam?" 

"  Judge  Hartley,  the  little  good  that's  left  in  me 


78  NONE  sue u  f 

survives  from  the  teachings  of  that  fond  heart  but  a 
month  in  her  grave,  my  mother." 

"  Well,  who  has  said  anything  about  mother  ?  We 
are  planning  to  snare  some  thirty-odd  millions  of 
dollars." 

"  Yes  — yes,  —  I  know,  —  that  is,  you  are." 

"  And  you  ?  "  turning  on  him  and  fascinating  him 
with  his  evil  eye,  and  with  uplifted  hand  as  if  to 
strike. 

Marcellus,  cowering,  put  up  an  arm.  Evidently 
these  men  had  brought  themselves  to  this  serious 
point  as  they  came  along  the  walk  hither. 

Starting  forward  and  grasping  a  book,  Dennis, 
whose  eyes  had  suspiciously  followed  them,  put  a 
ridiculous  phase  on  matters  by  exclaiming  in  a  hoarse 
whisper,  "  Misther  Marcellus,  say  the  word,  an'  I'll 
give  him  Alexander  the  Great  a  conquerin'  more 
worlds  I " 

"  Man,  your  place  is  by  the  door  I  "  cried  Mr.  Mar- 
cellus, who  knew  the  porter's  gigantic  strength. 

"  All  right,  sirr,"  answered  the  valet,  accustomed 
to  obey  orders ;  "  but  in  a  gintleman's  house,  an'  my 
masther's  secretary,  an'  a-itchin'  t'  do  it,  begorra  !  " 
Shaking  the  book  which  he  had  grasped,  he  went 
back  to  his  place  in  the  hall,  closing  the  door  after 
him. 

"  Father,  he  can't  marry  her,  and  he  don't  want  to. 
Her  husband's  name  is  the  one  Randall  will  insert  in 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  79 

that  will,"  resumed  the  private  secretary  earnestly. 
"  The  old  man  is-  going  to  do  a  unique,  a  poetic 
thing." 

"What?  That  crazy  notion  about  another  young 
life,  about  as  he  was  at  five  and  twenty?  " 

"  Yes, sir;  and  make  two  young  folks  just  as  happy 
as  money  can  make  them." 

"  But  —  but  —  where'll  he  find  his  man  ?  " 

"  She's  found  him.  You  must  have  caught  a 
glimpse  of  that  Horicon  about  here  of  late  ?  Now, 
look  at  this  portrait  of  the  Governor  at  five  and 
twenty."  The  slight  young  fellow,  with  features 
in  which  good  and  evil  both  contended,  had  surren- 
dered to  the  good  within  him,  of  which  he  had  just 
spoken,  for  this  hour  at  least,  as  he  sprang  up  and 
unveiled  the  portrait  of  young  Robert  Randall. 

"  By  Jupiter !  It's  the  Fates  !  He  never  saw 
Horicon  until  this  morning."  The  great  towering 
judge,  square  and  massive,  stood  back  aghast.  He 
even  lost  his  purple  color.  He  rubbed  his  chin. 

"  Fates  it  is,  then,  since  you  have  taught  me  there 
is  no  God,"  cried  the  son,  still  standing,  one  foot  on 
the  desk  and  the  other  on  the  chair. 

Looking  at  the  picture,  and  then  walking  up  and 
down,  returning  to  study  the  picture,  and  doing  it 
again  and  again,  at  last  the  sire  came  and  helped  his 
son  down,  letting  thus  the  silken  curtain  half  obscure 
the  features  of  the  dead,  which  the  absent  rich  man 
so  loved. 


80  NONE  SUCH 

"So,  so;  you  may  be  right.  And  he  wants  to 
draw  a  will.  It  makes  a  lawyer  laugh."  This  he 
spoke  loudly,  then  aside,  the  son  being  slightly  deaf, 
"  If  I  can't  prevent  a  will,  a  will  he  shall  have.  Oh, 
shade  of  Tilden !  What's  a  will  to  a  man  who  draws 
it  ?  I'll  set  the  minor  legatees  to  driving  forty  ox- 
teams  through  it."  He  was  now  rubbing  his  square 
chin  severely. 

Marcellus  Hartley  put  his  hand  to  his  ear  to  catch 
that  last  expression ;  but,  it  not  being  intended  for 
him,  he  failed. 

"  I'm  going  to  my  office  in  town,"  at  length  the 
attorney  remarked,  rising  to  depart. 

The  young  penman,  left  alone,  still  further  ad- 
journed his  work,  while  he  slipped  from  a  drawer, 
whose  key  he  had,  a  picture  of  a  pretty  girl,  and  fell 
to  studying  it. 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  81 


CHAPTER   IV. 

"  YOU'VE  done  a  big  thing,  old  man ! "  exclaimed 
Tom  Peters,  one  of  Charles  Horicon's  classmates,  as 
he  patted  his  friend  on  the  shoulder. 

"No  fellow  in  our  class  has  begun  to  equal  that," 
added  Fred  Sebastian,  civil  engineer  and  superin- 
tendent of  bridges  on  a  small  railroad  up  in  Canada, 
another  schoolfellow. 

"'  It's  worth  coming  from  Texas  to  see  this  Miss 
Mayfield,"  said  Phil  Kedges,  still  another  young 
engineer,  as  he  shared  the  compliments  he  wanted  to 
give  his  friend  Horicon  with  the  girl  whom  Horicon 
loved.  The  dark-eyed,  handsome  young  Kedges 
made  no  disguise  of  his  admiration  for  the  lady  on 
the  scene. 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Mr.  Kedges,  and  all  of  you," 
responded  Dorothea  Mayfield,  blushing  with  pride  for 
her  lover,  as  she  stood  there  on  the  mountain  high- 
way in  front  of  the  schoolhouse,  the  center  of  the 
group  of  visiting  young  engineers  who  were  looking 
down  into  the  field  below.  It  was  a  bright-faced, 
chatty,  and  honest-mouthed  company  of  young  fel- 
lows who  had  just  climbed  over  the  mounds  of  fresh 
earth  and  uncovered  masonry  below  them,  where 


82  NONE  SUCH 

Charles  Horicon's  masterpiece,  the  new  tunnel,  was 
approaching  completion. 

"The  tunnel  alone  —  a  mile  long,  under  lawns, 
fish-pond,  lake,  and,  most  of  all,  that  stream  —  will 
make  your  fame,  old  chap,"  exclaimed  Peters,  reach- 
ing up  and  steadying  himself  by  a  steel  guy-rope. 
"  But  you  must  know,  Miss  Mayfield,  the  big  thing 
was  saving  those  great  oaks." 

"  Yes,  sir-ee ! "  added  Sebastian,  grasping  another 
guy,  and  drawing  a  long  breath,  for  the  enthusiasts 
had  been  working  hard  at  their  tour  of  inspection. 
"  I  have  never  seen  three-feet  oaks  lifted  twelve  feet 
without  wilting  a  leaf  before.  I  don't  believe  it 
ever  was  done  before;  and  four  of  them,  —  a  whole 
grove ! " 

"Well,  the  Governor  wanted  to  cut  them,"  ex- 
plained Horicon  with  a  smile  of  sincere  gratification. 
"  But  I  reported  to  him,  if  he  didn't  mind  the 
expense,  as  I  knew  he  didn't,  I'd  save  them,  and 
still  give  him  his  tunnel,  and  a  big  mound  with  the 
oak  grove  on  top."  Then  he  went  on  to  explain 
how  he  had  sheathed  the  gnarled  centenarians  in 
lumber,  and  then  with  huge  clasps  connected  to 
outlying  timbers,  "jacked  the  whole  forest  without 
cutting  scarce  a  root." 

"  Big  tiling,  Charley !  your  fortune's  made.  A 
man  who  can  do  that  can  do  anything.  Hope  your 
old  man  appreciates  it,"  said  the  Southerner. 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  83 

"I  don't  think,  Charley,"  said  Dorothea,  "that 
you  should  leave  your  friends  to  suppose  that  you 
are  sordid." 

"  Oh,  of  course,  of  course.  This  is  all  a  labor  of 
love,"  quickly  put  in  Peters  with  good-natured  banter. 
"  I  never  asked;  but  if  it  is  not  out  of  place,  Horicon, 
professionally  now,  as  between  old  friends,  how  much 
less  than  ten  thousand  dollars  per  year,  eh?" 

"  Salary  ?  Bosh  !  I  get  only  twenty-five  hundred 
dollars  a  year." 

"  You  see,  young  gentlemen,"  remarked  Mayor 
Body,  who  just  then  came  up,  dusting  his  clothing 
with  his  gloves,  and  then  wiping  a  perspiring  brow 
as  he  removed  his  hat.  "  You  see,  our  friend  here,  the 
distinguished  ex-Governor,  never  pays  large  salaries. 
A  salary  is  business,  you  see  ;  a  gift  is  another  thing." 

Our  party  of  young  folks  all  looked  round  on  the 
intruder,  and  then  became  aware  also  of  three  or 
four  round-bodied  friends  of  his,  who  were  also 
toiling  up  towards  their  point  of  view. 

"Aldermen,  gentlemen,"  explained  Mayor  Body, 
"  you  see  these  improvements  of  the  Glen  Theron 
estate  interest  us,  the  authorities.  We  don't  quite 
know  what  happy  day  this  noble  estate  may  become 
a  part  of  our  system  of  parks.  You  see,  the  Gov- 
ernor's getting  old.  Yes,  Mr.  Horicon,  we  recognize 
the  high  favor  in  which  you  stand  with  his  Excel- 
lency, don't  we,  gentlemen  ?  " 


84  NONE  SUCH? 

The  aldermen  had  by  this  time  dodged  in  and  out 
between  guys,  blocks  of  granite,  and  scattered  carts, 
and  presented  themselves  for  assent,  their  faces  red 
in  the  flashes  of  the  sultry  August  sunbeams. 

"  You  understand,  Mr.  Horicon,"  the  Mayor  bluntly 
went  on,  "  we  expect  to  retain  you  as  engineer  of  the 
city  in  case  —  that  is,  if  I  am  still  in  office  when  all 
this  fine  property  comes  to  bless  our  noble  city.  I 
shall  be  only  too  glad  to  use  my  influence  to  retain 
you,  and  at  an  increased  salary.  I  should  say  thirty- 
five  hundred  dollars  per  year." 

The  stony  stare  of  these  self-reliant  young  en- 
gineers, Sebastian,  Kedges,  Peters,  and  Horicon,  all  of 
whom  loved  their  profession  and  were  content  to  live 
by  it  without  "jobs,"  rather  chilled  the  politician. 
But  intrusion  was  a  small  thing  to  such  as  he ;  and 
he  shortly  got  breath  to  say :  "  Now,  Horicon,  you 
want  to  work  with  us.  Just  show  the  Governor 
what's  what  'bout  the  general  plan.  I  guess  Hart- 
ley'll  fix  it  all  right  anyway  in  the  will.  'Tain't 
much  doubt  we'll  get  it.  And  if  the  city  does,  why 
—  there's  money  to  be  made  on  all  this  neighboring 
real  estate;  "  and  he  pointed  back  with  his  thumb  to 
the  red  schoolhouse  and  the  farm-lands  beyond. 

"  Mayor  Body,"  said  Horicon,  little  relishing  the 
false  light  in  which  that  official  was  putting  him 
before  his  professional  friends,  and  most  of  all  before 
Dorothea,  "  I'm  not  your  man.  I  claim  no  influence 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  85 

with  Governor  Randall  whatever,  and  have  no  favors 
to  ask  of  him  or  any  other  man.  I  can  give  work 
for  all  I  take  from  this  world." 

He  had  better  not  have  said  it.  Such  a  speech 
was  inexplicable  on  manly  principles  to  the  Mayor. 
Within  two  minutes  Body  had  Alderman  Fitzpatrick 
by  the  coat,  whispering :  "  I  sounded  him.  He's  agin 
us.  He  snubbed  me.  I  think  Hartley  is  right.  This 
young  sprig  expects  to  gobble.  We've  got  to  join 
Hartley  and  kill  him  off  somehow." 

The  civic  authorities  moved  away,  with  scant 
good-afternoons,  probably  plotting  the  aforesaid  kill- 
ing. 

And  why  not,  gentlemen?  What  is  one  young, 
hopeful  life  in  comparison  with  "  the  greater  good  of 
the  many  "  ?  A  public  park,  "  a  breathing-place  for 
unborn  millions,"  with  benches  for  lazy  loungers 
otherwise  under  foot  of  the  industrious.  Why, 
many  a  good  man  has  left  out  his  own  blood  rela- 
tions for  the  sake  of  thus  giving  his  acres  to  the 
unborn  millions.  A  rich  man  had  better  never  die 
than,  dying,  leave  next  to  nothing  in  "  public  be- 
quests." That  is  true  —  we  all  note  it  —  such  a 
mistake.  The  press  notes  it  far  and  wide ;  moralists 
note  it.  But  the  curious  thing  is  that  we  do  not 
note  it  when  a  rich  man  leaves  next  to  nothing  to 
his  kin.  Probably  because  we  understand  it.  "  Poor 
relations  "  are  such  a  nuisance  through  all  one's  sue- 


86  NONE  SUCH? 

cessful  earthly  pilgrimage,  that  no  doubt  the  success- 
ful man  is  excusable  in  giving  them  one  last  "  shake- 
off"  when  he  goes  to  an  undisturbed  heaven.  Blood 
is  no  thicker  than  water  in  the  new  democracy. 

"Now,  what's  my  nephew,  Jim  Lamoile,  to  me?" 
asked  the  Mayor,  as  the  City  Fathers  moved  along. 
"  Good  'nough  boy ;  but  let  him  dig.  I  had  to. 
Just  because  he's  got  my  sister's  blood  in  Ins  veins 
shall  I,  if  I  die  to-morrow,  go  give  him  twenty -five 
thousand  dollars  of  my  hard-earned  money?  And 
cheat  the  masses  ?  " 

"  Who  are  these  masses?"  quizzed  Alderman  Fitz- 
patrick,  who  was  the  father  of  a  big  family  whom  he 
was  inexcusably  attached  to.  "  D'ye  ever  analoize 
'em,  Misther  Mayor?  Them  masses  't  you'd  be  afther 
lavin'  yer  money  to,  them's  the  streets  full  o'  people, 
and  the  houses  full,  and  the  shops  full  of  somebody's 
nephews  an'  cousins  an'  childern.  I  vow  I  don't 
think  it's  sech  a  sin  t'  prefer  my  own.  However,  I 
ain't  got  nothin'  to  leave." 

"  No  ;  and  you  won't  have,  Alderman,  if  you  keep 
on  despising  the  masses.  Stand  by  the  masses,  and 
they'll  stand  by  you.  This  great,  glorious  country ! 
This  smart  city !  Why,  it's  here  Governor  Randall 
made  his  money  !  What  right  has  he  to  forget  that 
this  here  glorious  town  give  him  his  chance?  He 
stood  on  this  here  earth,  and  breathed  this  here  air, 
and  drank  this  here  water"  — 


THERE   WILL    YET  J1E  THOUSANDS.  87 

"  He  had  ter  stand  somewhere,"  objected  Fitzpat- 
rick.  "  He  can't  give  anything  but  his  bones  to  the 
earth  here,  and  his  last  breath  to  the  air  here.  We, 
the  people,  didn't  help  him  make  his  money  any 
more'n  we  could  help,  you  bet.  What's  ye  givin'  on 
us?" 

"Oh,  Alderman,  you  ain't  in  it.  What  I  was  argu- 
ing was  that  Governor  Randall's  cousin's  son,  for 
instance,  if  he  had  one,  though  bone  of  his  bone, 
or  his  grandfather,  or  uncle,  or  aunt,  ain't  nowhere, 
according  to  the  eternal  gospel  of  Yankee-land,  be- 
side these  here  masses.  Lamoile?  My  nephew? 
He's  always  borrowin'  money  of  me." 

"  He's  the  first  man,"  cackled  Alderman  Coffin. 

"  Well,"  the  Mayor  corrected  himself,  reddening, 
"always  wanting  to  borrow  of  me,"  still  further 
acknowledging  the  well-known  impeachment  with  a 
laugh. 

"  Of  course,  Body,"  said  Alderman  Coffin,  "we'll 
back  you.  We  must  rig  things  to  break  this  young 
sucker,  Hurricane,  or  what's  his  name  ?  That's  easy 
enough.  One  boy  and  girl  shouldn't  stand  in  our 
way.  Just  take  it  in  our  church,  for  instance.  I'm 
a  deacon.  When  the  good  of  the  whole  church  de- 
manded a  change,  did  I  stop  to  think  about  the 
young  preacher  and  his  children  ?  No,  sir ;  I  sacri- 
ficed them  freely  and  nobly,  sir.  One  for  many,  sir. 
I  kicked  preacher  and  babies  out  o'  town,  sir.  And 


88  NONE  SUCH? 

I'd  sacrificed  them,  sir,  if  the  whole  church  had 
wanted  them  to  stay,  sir,  instead  of  four-fifths,  when 
I  set  my  will.  But  you,  Fitzpatrick,  being  a  blind 
—  a  Catholic  —  can't  understand  my  illustration. 
'Tain't  so  in  your  down-trodden,  priest-enslaved 
church.  The  thing  to  do,  sir,  however,  is  to  get  the 
biggest  slice  of  them  thirty-five  millions  for  the  good 
of  posterity  in  this  town  if  we  can." 

This  seemed  to  be  the  sense  of  the  meeting,  as  the 
winds  recorded  it,  and  the  evening  ravens  cawed  at 
it,  —  ravens  which  had  passed  the  day  gathering  that 
they  did  not  sow  and  now  bound  for  their  aerie  by 
the  distant  river. 

There  on  the  hill  by  the  schoolhouse  the  group  of 
young  men  and  the  lady  had  broken  up,  the  engineers 
stalking  off  towards  the  railway  station  below.  Doro- 
thea Mayfield  had  detained  Charley  Horicon  natu- 
rally enough  for  an  evening  tryst.  Indeed,  at  the 
first,  at  the  risk  of  being  intrusive,  his  friends  had 
rather  pressed  the  young  man  "  to  take  us  up  and 
introduce  us  "  after  their  tour  of  inspection  of  the 
new  tunnel.  It  was  only  fair  for  his  guests  now  to 
expect  him  to  stay  behind  with  this  lady  in  gray  at 
the  wall.  Her  dainty  straw  hat,  at  whose  crown  the 
small  veil  tugged  in  the  evening  breeze,  her  pretty 
sunshade  now  folded,  with  which  she  tapped  the 
mossy  old  stones,  her  lovely,  dainty  self,  all  in  all 
contrasted  strikingly  with  Horicon  in  blue  shirt 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  89 

belted  over  rough  corduroys,  which  were  tucked  in 
top-boots.  But  the  handsome,  manly  face,  bronzed 
and  weather-beaten,  even  to  the  full  whiskers,  whose 
black  the  sun  had  touched  a  trifle,  and  down  to  the 
open  neck,  where  the  loose,  flying  neck-scarf  was 
knotted,  the  superb  form,  as  he  stood  with  folded 
arms  watching  his  retreating  guests,  made  up  a 
whole  that  fitted  his  work  and  was  peculiarly  attrac- 
tive, even  the  boys  remarked  to  one  another. 

There  are  other  spectators  watching  the  lovers. 
The  Governor's  landau,  winding  up  the  hill  from 
the  east,  but  not  in  sight  of  the  pair,  is  bring- 
ing the  old  man  home  after  another  weary  day. 
He  has  his  "  law-feller  "  with  him,  for  there  are  yet 
hours  of  toil  at  home  before  the  day's  work  is  done. 

"  I  just  want  you  to  see  how  Horicon's  tunnel 
looks  now,"  suggested  Judge  Hartley.  "You 
haven't  seen  it  since  you  went  to  Washington  a  week 
ago."  There  was  astute  calculation  in  all  this.  The 
attorney  knew  the  lovers'  habit  of  a  sunset  tryst  on 
the  mountain  highway.  He  proposed  to  prove  to 
the  uttermost  the  old  man's  heart.  Suddenly,  as  the 
vehicle  rounded  the  great  mossy  ledge  on  the  left 
almost  upon  the  young  people,  Governor  Randall 
alighted  from  the  carriage,  creeping  close  to  the 
rock,  cane  in  hand,  while  he  studied  the  two  from 
just  out  of  their  sight  and  hearing. 

"  Oh,  Youth  and  Poverty  !     But  I  am  Wealth  and 


90  NONE  SUCH? 

Age  all  in  one,  Hartley.  A  few  weeks  ago  I  thought 
I  could  make  them  happy  and  be  happy  myself  look- 
ing at  them,  and  thinking  on  their  happy  half  a  cen- 
tury which  I'd  give  them.  But  I  can't.  I  love  the 
girl  myself." 

"  Oh,  pshaw  !  "  said  the  Judge.  "  Yon  have  now 
seen  what  your  money  can  do  to  make  others  happy. 
How  do  you  like  it?"  However  coarse  the  tantaliz- 
ing, it  was  not  unusual  between  these  forcible  men. 

"Looks  different  when  one  comes  to  realize  it," 
murmured  the  Governor,  all  the  selfishness  in  his 
forcible  personality  now  awakening.  Could  a  man 
achieve  what  he  had  without  an  intense  self-love? 
Self-love  is  God's  gift.  But  how  easily  it  may  de- 
generate to  selfishness  unless  the  moral  sense  is 
strong,  all  powerful  natures  learn  to  their  sorrow. 

Judge  Hartley  read  this  man  to  a  degree,  at  least, 
and  thought  he  saw  his  moment. 

"  Recall  my  prophecy,  Governor.  Marry  the  lady 
yourself.  You  are  good  for  twenty  years  yet." 

"  I  ain't.  You've  got  a  devil,"  snarled  the  Gov- 
ernor. "  Every  smart  lawyer  has.  I'm  a  fool,  but 
can't  help  it.  The  soul  don't  grow  old." 

"  The  soul !  It's  nothing  but  the  blood,  and  yours 
flows  warm  yet,"  said  Hartley  encouragingly. 

"  Hartley,  I  despise  such  infidel  stuff,  and  you  too; 
yet  you  make  yourself  necessary  to  me.  Get  in  and 
drive  on  to  Glen  Theron." 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  91 

"  I  obey.  Anything  for  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars a  year,"  was  the  attorney's  revenge  as  he  drove 
away. 

Returning  most  intently  to  his  study  of  Horicon 
and  Dorothea,  and  with  suppressed  excitement,  the 
Governor  muttered:  "  And  yet  my  will  makes  Hori- 
con heir  to  most  of  these  millions,"  pounding  the 
road  with  his  cane.  "  I'll  destroy  it !  Old  Father 
Time,  a  curse  on  ye  !  "  with  tight-drawn  lips.  "  I  will 
live  !  I'll  build  another  church,  and  maybe  that  will 
buy  from  Heaven  ten  years  more.  Oh !  oh  !  "  It  was 
a  cry  of  pain,  as  he  clapped  his  hand  to  his  left  side. 
"  That  pain  !  But  the  Doctor  said  'twas  nothing. 
Heigh  !  Oh,  how  it  grips !  "  He  leaned  heavily 
against  the  rock  for  support.  "I'll  leave  her  a  rich 
widow's  pension  if  she'll  have  me  —  and  all  the  rest 
-  to  charity."  His  struggle  with  physical  pain  had 
made  him  careless  of  how  loud  he  spoke  in  his  habit 
of  soliloquy. 

"  That  was  Governor  Randall's  voice  !  "  cried  Dor- 
othea, starting  forward.  "  What  has  happened  to 
you,  dear  sir,  that  you  are  on  foot?"  she  asked, 
coming  upon  him. 

"  My  dear  girl,  how  well  you  know  my  habits. 
You  knew,  didn't  ye,  that  I  usually  got  back  from 
the  office  about  now,  and  rarely  walk,  and  not  seldom 
come  up  this  way.  Ah,  it  was  a  sad  day  when  you 
left  my  house." 


92  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Dear  sir,  was  there  an  accident  ?  "  asked  Mr. 
Horicon,  as  lie  also  came  round  the  rock.  "  Shall  I 
run  to  the  stables  for  another  carriage  ?  " 

"No!"  The  tone  contrasted  sullenly  with  his 
gracious  salutation  of  Dorothea. 

"  Pardon  me,  but  perhaps  your  ill  turn  has  seized 
you  again.  I  can  have  the  carriage  here  in  "  — 

"  Horicon,  no  !  D'ye  think  no  legs  are  strong  but 
yours  ?  You  needn't  stop  here,  though." 

"  I  beg  pardon.  My  workmen  need  my  presence," 
was  Charley's  unruffled  rejoinder,  as  he  walked 
promptly  away. 

"Very  suddenly  recalled  the  workmen,"  snarled 
the  unhappy  Governor. 

"  Governor  Randall !  "  Dorothea  bridled  instantly. 
"  He  came  from  the  field  to  ask  that  I .  meet  the 
physician  at  the  Lamoile  cottage,  as  he  was  too 
busy." 

"  Lamoile  cottage  ?  What's  up  ?  That's  not  on 
my  estate."  He  softened  perceptibly,  however,  un- 
der her  address,  for  his  own  heart  rebuked  him. 

"No;  but  Jamie  Lamoile  formerly  worked  in  your 
rose-house,  and  last  month  was  overcome  by  the  heat 
there.  Charley  Horicon  pays  the  physician ; "  with 
modest  triumph  she  had  to  say  it. 

"  Why  don't  I  pay  ?  "  decidedly  cowed,  now,  the 
rich  man  demanded. 

"  The  bookkeeper  threw  it  out  of  the  July  accounts. 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  93 

He  reported  that  Squire  Hartley  decided  that  you 
were  not  liable."  How  intensely  she  enjoyed  this 
home  thrust,  being,  as  she  knew  she  was,  wholly  in 
the  right. 

"  Humph  !  Hartley  is  mighty  careful  of  my  dollars, 
gra}r  old  rat.  Wonder  why  ?  "  The  downcast  eyes 
of  the  rich  and  suffering  man  marked  the  figures 
made  by  his  walking-stick  in  the  sand  now. 

"Because  Jamie  had  given  his  notice.  He  was 
going  to  set  up  as  a  florist  in  a  small  wa^pdown  by 
the  depot  this  fall." 

"  I  meant,"  he  interrupted  nervously,  "  why  was 
Hartley  so  careful  of  my  dollars  ?  But  never  mind. 
Sit  down,  please.  Indulge  an  old  man.  Now,  you 
say  this  sick  man  is  doctored  at  my  head  gardener's 
expense,  by  George,  and  yet  was  going  to  set  up  for 
himself  in  business.  That  don't  gibe."  And  he  ven- 
tured to  look  at  her  face. 

"  But  Mr.  Horicon  is  never  so  happy  as  when  doing 
something  kindly,"  was  her  womanlike  way  of  pulling 
in  her  lover  for  praise.  She  was  going  on  with  the 
narrative,  no  doubt ;  for  she  half-seated,  half -leaned 
herself  against  the  big  stones  and  began  tapping  her 
toe  with  her  sunshade.  But  the  Governor  thought 
he  had  the  advantage  and  cried,  — 

"  Hey  ?  That  may  be,  but  this  Jim  Lamoile  must 
have  had  money  to  think  of  starting  for  himself. 
See  ?  He's  beating  you.  That's  the  way  of  the 
world,  Miss.  Everybody's  a  beat." 


94  NONESUCH? 

"  No,  Governor  Randall,  I  presume  I  may  explain," 
she  persisted.  "  Jamie  is  married  and  has  two  chil- 
dren. He  is  ambitious  and  bright.  Mr.  Horicon 
saw  this  and  proposed  to  lend  him  money,  thinking 
he  would  enjoy  seeing  Jamie  grow  up  to  be  a  success- 
ful rose  merchant.  There  is  a  demand  " 

"By  George,  Miss  Mayfield,  is  that  the  kind  of 
fellow  he  is?"  There  was  no  disguising  the  break 
of  sunshine  that  flashed  from  his  face  at  this  unmis- 
takable revelation  of  Mr.  Horicon's  character. 

"  Why,  Governor,  haven't  you  learned  his  noble 
nature  yet?" 

"  Yes,  of  course,  Heaven  help  my  pesky  old 
heart !  "  Heaven  might  have  read  in  his  heart  a 
savage  question:  "Shall  I  kick  sech  a  chap  out?" 
But  to  her,  "  He's  smarter'n  a  whip,  certain." 

"  More  than  smart,"  she  answered,  never  relishing 
that  adjective,  but  musing.  "  He  is  all  the  while  help- 
ing others  to  get  on  their  feet,  as  he  calls  it.  If  he 
lives  and  prospers,  there'll  be  many  happier  lives  in 
the  world  because  of  Charley  Horicon." 

The  Governor  spoke  it  to  the  evening  west  wind, 
as  he  turned  his  face  away :  "  She's  daft  on  him.  By 
George,  I've  got  no  chance  while  he's  around ! "  Then 
desperately  turning  to  confront  her:  "I'm  going  to 
let  him  go  ;  "  and  he  glanced  up,  his  lower  jaw  adrop, 
as  he  watched  the  effect  of  his  words. 

"Sir!"    She  was  all  attention  now,  be  sure.    "This 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  95 

is  dreadful  news.  You  intimated  to  him  that  he  was 
a  fixture  011  Glen  Theron  estate." 

"  Woman,  see  here.  I  will  make  you  —  if  you'll 
say  yes  —  the  lady  of  Glen  Theron."  He  stood  up 
to  his  full  height  to  offer  himself  to  her. 

Rising  also  and  starting  back,  she  flung  it  at  him. 
"  Governor  Randall,  you  cannot  be  sincere  !  You  are 
old  enough  to  be  my  grandfather !  " 

"  And  daily  do  the  work  that  beats  all  the  boys  in 
the  market !  I  am  sincere  though.  I  want  a  wife. 
I'm  going  to  Europe  for  enjoyment  once,  going  to 
enjoy  all  I've  got,  for  ten  years  to  come.  By  George, 
I've  slaved  hard  enough  for  it.  Why  shouldn't  I 
spread  my  lump  of  butter  on  my  own  slice  of  bread? 
If  my  millions  are  so  nice  to  make  men  happy,  —  and 
they're  all  after  'em,  —  suppose  I  try  it  myself.  I've 
got  to  leave  my  money  soon  enough." 

"Oh,  Governor  Randall,  in  Heaven's  name  don't 
show  me  more  of  this  ignoble  side  of  yourself."  Her 
gentle  pleading  seemed  that  of  a  holy  monitor  as  she 
clasped  her  hands  and  pressed  them  downward  in 
front  of  her.  "Remember  the  order  of  nature.  You 
have  had  your  chance  at  this  beautiful  world,  and 
lived  life  nearly  through.  Oh,  sir,  submit  to  Nature's 
laws,  as  yonder  giant  old  oak  submits  to  age,  in  dig- 
nity and  calm.  V  is  not  for  a  poor  girl  like  me  to 
say  what  you  shall  do  with  your  vast  wealth.  Mr. 
Horicon  says  it  might  well  be  the  business  of  a  strong, 


96  NONE  SUCH? 

wise  young  man,  for  his  fifty  years  coming,  to  use  it 
in  setting  a  thousand  struggling  young  lives  on  their 
feet,  lives  that  have  tripped  in  scantiness,  but  not  in 
sin,  helping  them  on  their  feet  along  the  path." 

Governor  Randall  lifted  his  hand  to  interrupt  her. 
"  Ah,  how's  that  for  a  vocation  ?  To  set  a  thousand 
struggling  lives  on  their  feet?  "  But  almost  instantly, 
with  a  decided  sneer :  "  Horicon  himself  would  like  a 
lift?" 

"  Sir  ?  He  asks  no  favors.  How  cruel  you  can  be 
when  you  try.  You  shall  not  speak  his  name  again  to 
me.  And  you  wickedly  discharge  him  without  a 
cause." 

"  Not  so,  fairest  of  women ;  you  are  the  cause." 

"  Poor,  blind  old  man  !  I  see.  You  would  remove 
a  rival  ?  Why,  you  make  me  bitter  "  — 

"  And  therefore  not  yourself." 

"  Dear  sir,  would  I  not  naturally  choose  his  bronzed 
youth  to  your  pallid  age,  even  though  you  came  with 
a  thousand  palaces  in  your  shaking  palm  ?  We  were 
to  marry  this  winter,  and  he  was  to  ask  leave  for  three 
months  in  Europe.  We  can  still  marry,  for  he  will 
get  work  elsewhere.  Europe  will  keep."  The  en- 
ergy of  her  girlish  indignation  had  carried  her  beyond 
herself,  and  blushing  and  almost  in  tears  she  hid  her 
face  in  her  hands.  , 

Just  then  there  sounded  the  whir  of  wheels  and  a 
pony's  hoof-strokes.  In  a  pretty  phaeton,  holding 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  97 

the  reins  herself,  Mrs.  Mayfield,  Dorothea's  mother, 
reined  up  before  them.  Her  careworn  face,  on  which 
a  chastened  glow  of  happiness  was  beaming,  instantly 
changed  as  she  confronted  her  daughter  and  Gov- 
ernor Randall. 

"  My  child,  how  late !  I  drove  up  in  your  pony 
phaeton  to  meet  you—  But,  what  has  happened? 
Our  dear  friend,  your  father's  friend,  kind  Hezekiah 
Randall?  I  read  estrangement  in  your  features." 

"  Ma'am,  you  come  in  the  nick  of  time.  I  have 
just  made  your  daughter  an  offer  of  marriage,  which 
she  rejects,"  dryly  remarked  Governor  Randall. 

"  Oh,  why  didn't  it  come  a  year  ago  !  "  exclaimed 
the  widow  in  distress.  Throwing  down  the  lines,  she 
sprang  from  the  phaeton,  and  affectionately  embraced 
her  daughter.  Mrs.  Mayfield  was  a  well-meaning 
woman.  She  was  devoted  to  her  only  child.  She 
had  once  been  a  woman  of  high  s.pirit  before  it  was 
broken  by  social  failure.  She  realized  this  moment- 
ous crisis  in  her  child's  life,  than  which  is  none 
greater.  But  all  her  strength  had  been  sapped  by 
these  dependent  years.  The  awful  power  of  wealth 
in  contrast  now  bore  down  all  her  womanly  wisdom. 
There  had  been  a  time  when  she  had  dreamed  of 
this  proud  alliance.  Then  later  she  had  dismissed  it, 
content  and  pleased  with  Charley  Horicon,  whom  her 
woman's  better  wisdom  approved.  But  now,  too  late, 
the  splendid  possibility  was  before  them  again.  Gov- 


98  NONE  SUCHf 

ernor  Randall's  blue  eyes  read  all  this  in  her  face 
while  he  waited,  and  he  pitied  her.  He  was  himself 
conscious  of  that  contempt  for  human  subserviency 
to  his  money  very  often.  Now  there  was  coupled 
with  it  a  contempt  for  himself,  as  if  he  were  a  tempter. 
Yet  he  allowed  himself  to  say  :  — 

"  Before  she  picked  out  this  penniless  boy,  ma'am  ? 
But  even  yet  two  ambitious  women  like  you  ought 
to  find  a  way." 

"  There  is  a  way !  Oh,  my  only  child,"  the 
mother  exclaimed,  "will  you  deliberately  choose  to 
pinch  in  vulgar  poverty  all  your  days  ?  Think  of  the 
luxury  of  money !  Luxuries  give  a  man  vitality,  and 
this  gentleman  is  young  "  — 

"  Oh,  mamma,  so  young !  "  said  Dorothea  in  fine 
irony. 

"  At  least,  not  so  very  old.  Why,  child,  who  gave 
you  the  turnout  with  which  my  tired  limbs  came 
hither"  — 

"  Mamma,  please,"  protested  the  girl,  putting  up 
her  hand.  "  I  thought  the  turnout  was  the  uncalcu- 
lating  kindness  of  an  old  family  friend.  Now  let  it 
stand  there  forever,  if  it  will,  at  the  edge  of  the  field." 
And  she  struck  her  foot  in  the  dust,  like  a  queen. 

The  poor  lady  knew  this  was  right,  and  half- 
admired  her  child  for  saying  it.  Yet  her  sense  of 
obligation,  that  sting  of  patronage,  compelled  her  to 
add,  "And,  child,  who  owns  our  cottage?" 


THEIiE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  99 

"  A  man  who  ought  to  treat  my  father's  widow  and 
child  with  chivalric  kindness,  and  who  might  have 
taken  his  rent  if  he  would,"  answered  Dorothea  fear- 
lessly. 

"  Hush,  child,  you  hurt  me.  Let's  remain  friends," 
protested  Randall,  the  nobler  feelings  of  a  really  kind 
heart  rapidly  asserting  themselves. 

"  You  can  keep  no  friends  with  yonder  man  so  near 
you,"  said  Dorothea,  pointing  down  the  gray  drive  of 
Glen  Theron,  where  Judge  Hartley  was  slowly  walk- 
ing towards  them. 

"Old  Hartley,  what's  he  after?"  demanded  the 
Governor,  glancing  up. 

Finding  himself  observed,  the  attorney,  who  had 
been  loitering  along  the  bowered  way  as  if  to  inter- 
cept his  employer,  quickened  his  pace  and  soon  stood 
before  them.  He  began  :  — 

"  Governor  Randall,  I  thought  you  would  be  alone 
by  this  time.  Accustomed  to  read  your  very  thoughts, 
I  brought  you  this.  Thought  you  were  in  just  the 
mood  for  it."  And  he  held  a  neatly  folded  paper  in 
his  outstretched  hand. 

"That  will!  You  old  rat,  you're  quick.  The  liar 
knows  I  have  no  long  lease  of  life,"  snarled  the 
unhappy  rich  man,  who  never  chose  his  words  when 
addressing  Hartley.  "You  thought  I  might  want 
to  destroy  it,  eh  ?  " 

"  Your  Excellency,  you  seemed  to  me  when  I  left 


100  If  ONE  SUCH? 

you  to  have  come  to  a  momentous  decision,  and  this 
is  a  dangerous  paper  to  leave  around." 

"Ye-es,"  mused  the  Governor;  and  he  grasped  it 
as  if  about  to  tear  it  in  pieces.  "  But  wait,"  he  re- 
marked. "  Mrs.  Mayfield,  you  will  not  attempt  to 
walk  home  ?  " 

"  Yes,  mamma,  for  I  shall  not  ride  in  the  phaeton," 
protested  Dorothea,  stepping  between  her  mother  and 
the  vehicle  decisively. 

"  You  precious,  fondest,  most  willful  child,  I  cannot, 
cannot  give  up  the  Governor's  friendship !  "  sobbed 
the  poor  weak  lady. 

"  Mamma,  dear,"  was  Dorothea's  almost  tearful 
reassurance,  "  you  have  never  known  want,  and  you 
never  shall.  But,  oh,  my  mother  will  not  seek  to 
impose  this  sacrifice  upon  me !  I  am  so  young ! 
What  can  be  so  dreadful !  I  have  no  love  for  him. 
Then,  too,  see  who  is  looking  on,"  she  cried,  blushing 
and  paling  by  turns,  as  she  indicated  Judge  Hartley 
with  her  eyes. 

"Well,  I  shall  keep  the  present.  May  I,  Gov- 
ernor ? "  pleaded  the  shattered  Mrs.  Mayfield  in 
childish  persistency. 

"  Why,  certainly,  my  old  friend's  wife,"  said  Gov- 
ernor Randall  heartily,  rising  to  help  her  on  the  other 
hand,  as  she  walked  to  the  phaeton.  "  Miss  Dorothea, 
do  not  take  this  so  much  to  heart.  Let's  wait  and  see 
how  we  feel.  Get  in  with  your  mother." 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  101 

"  No,  thank  you,"  objected  Dorothea,  though  there 
seemed  no  other  way,  so  far  as  her  mother  was  con- 
cerned. "  It  will  soon  be  sundown,  and  " 

"Young  Horicon  passes  this  way  to  the  lodge  after 
his  toil,"  said  the  attorney,  quite  forgetting  himself 
in  his  devotion  to  his  purpose. 

"  Keep  your  finger  out  of  this  pie,"  was  the  Gov- 
ernor's sharp  rebuke,  which  stung  the  Squire  to  anger 
and  a  further  loss  of  self-control. 

"  Pardon  me ;  I  would  defend  you  against  needy 
adventurers,"  said  the  attorney. 

The  girl  could  scarcely  believe  her  ears.  Her  full 
red  lips  lost  their  color,  her  eyes  dilated  on  him. 
What  she  might  have  said,  however,  to  defend  her 
woman's  honor  was  unspoken,  for  at  that  moment 
she  caught  sight  of  Charley  Horicon  approaching. 
"  See  ! "  she  cried.  "But  he  is  too  far  off  to  hear 
that,  lending  a  hand  with  the  workmen.  Which 
earns  his  bread,  Governor  Randall,  and  which  is  the 
adventurer  ?  " 

"  Why  does  he  lift  away  at   loading  chains  into 

I  carts  like  that?     He's  head  man,"  remarked  the  Gov- 

'  ernor,  peering  against  the  setting  sunbeams  down  on 

the  tunnel  works,  where  Horicon  bent  himself  to  some 

last  labors  of  the  evening. 

Perhaps  Judge  Hartley  did  not  intend  to  be  over- 
heard as  he  growled  an  explanation  in  reply  to  the 
Governor's  question  :  "  Ostentatiously." 


102  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Shame,  Judge  Hartley  !  "  flamed  Dorothea  at  him. 
"  It  is  because  it  is  his  nature  to  help  the  weak.  He 
is  returning  to  his  lodge.  There  are  aged  men  among 
the  tip-carts.  The  day  is  old  and  the  tackles  are 
heavy.  That's  why  my  giant  lifts  them."  Dorothea's 
loyalty  to  her  affianced  had  carried  her  to  the  limit  of 
boldness  before  these  men,  a  thing  that  she  disliked 
in  women.  She  would  have  been  glad  to  retreat 
except  that  Mr.  Horicon  was  now  so  near,  following 
along  after  the  carts  as  the  men  made  their  way  to 
the  opening  in  the  highway  fencing  just  opposite. 

"  Miss  Mayfield,"  resumed  the  Governor  with  the 
fine  and  courtly  grace  that  he  could  easily  and  most 
naturally  take  on  when  self-possessed,  "  your  course 
is  admirable.  You  have  spoken  just  right." 

The  remark  was  not  lost  on  the  Judge,  who  at 
once  rejoined,  "  I  suppose  you  want  nothing  more  of 
me?" 

"No;  you  can  go  back,"  replied  the  Governor 
coldly. 

As  he  stepped  back  to  turn  through  the  wall, 
Judge  Hartley  stumbled  over  one  of  the  old  men 
struggling  at  that  moment  in  a  bended  attitude  with 
a  tackle-block  that  was  lying  on  the  ground.  The 
lawyer  was  a  large  and  clumsy  man,  and  probably 
without  intending  it  pushed  the  aged  workman  down. 

Good-naturedly,  yet  with,  ringing  voice,  Charley 
Horicon  cried  out:  " Respect  the  burden,  Squire 


THEEE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  103 

Hartley!  The  old  man's  down,"  and  at  the  same 
time  started  forward  to  lift  him. 

Brushing  his  own  clothing  impatiently,  the  lawyer 
retorted,  "  Pick  him  up  then,  fellow." 

"  Fellow  !  "  echoed  Horicon,  quoting  the  obnoxious 
word  and  tone  with  spirit.  Then  straightening  up 
the  fallen  man,  he  gave  vent  to  his  indignation  over 
the  insult  to  himself  with  great  self-control  by  seizing 
alone  the  big  tackle-block  and  chain,  and  hurling  it 
with  an  athletic  toss  so  that  it  fell  with  a  crash  into 
the  cart. 

"  Bravo,  my  giant ! "  cried  Dorothea,  clapping  her 
hands,  even  more  delighted  by  Horicon's  moral  vic- 
tory of  self-control  than  by  the  exhibition  of  such 
strength. 

"  Say,  Hartley,  by  George,"  put  in  the  Governor, 
"  that's  in  lieu  of  tossing  you  into  the  cart."  Then 
with  a  ringing  laugh,  "  Oh,  how  sorry  I  should  have 
felt,  Judge,  if  he'd  pitched  you  in  and  broke  your 
neck !  " 

"  That  adventurer !  "  repeated  Hartley  with  bitter 
defiance 

"  Judge  Hartley,"  said  Horicon,  advancing  on  his 
man,  yet  speaking  calmly,  "  more  than  once  lately  I 
hear  you  have  applied  that  characterization  to  me. 
Take  it  back  now ! "  The  young  man's  color  was 
gone.  He  was  as  pale  as  marble. 

"  Aren't  you  an  adventurer,    cherishing  great  ex- 


104  NOXE  SUCI1? 

pectations  of  this  rich  friend's  money?"  continued 
the  reckless  attorney,  as  if  this  thrust  must  be  anni- 
hilation. 

"  What  can  the  man  mean  ? "  queried  Horicon, 
pausing  with  undisguised  astonishment. 

"  Oh,  that's  transparent  pretense,"  growled  Hartley 
with  a  square  laugh. 

"Go  home,  Hartley.  I  never  told  Horicon  my 
foolish  purpose,"  interposed  the  Governor. 

Gazing,  however,  with  a  puzzled  but  stern  glance 
from  one  to  the  other,  Horicon  took  a  step  nearer  his 
tormentor,  and  began,  "  You're  an  older  man  than 
I"  — 

"Yes,  he's  old  enough  to  know  better  !  "  Laugh- 
ing, to  avert  trouble,  the  Governor  shot  this  in. 

"I  want  your  retraction  and  apology,"  persisted 
Horicon  to  the  Judge.  He  now  stood  close  up  to  the 
big  attorney. 

Turning  quickly  and  raising  his  walking-stick,  the 
infuriate  Judge  was  about  to  strike.  The  stick  cut 
the  air,  but  Horicon  received  the  blow  in  his  cal- 
loused palms  harmlessly,  and  then  snapped  the  qane 
and  threw  the  two  fragments  away.  At  the  same 
time  he  grasped  Hartley's  two  wrists,  and  held  them 
with  the  grip  of  a  Hercules. 

"  Charley  !  "  screamed  Dorothea,  springing  for- 
ward to  fetter  him  with  her  arms.  But  he  disengaged 
himself  by  a  swing  and  a  side  motion.  She  felt 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.          105 

every  muscle  of  his  great  shoulders  protest,  and  she 
released  him. 

"  Mad  boy  !  "  cried  the  Governor. 

With  a  whirl  from  his  grip  the  muscular  young 
gardener  threw  his  assailant  backward,  ignominiously 
sprawling  on  the  green  soft  bank  of  the  roadside. 
Then  he  himself  straightened  up  and  looked  down  on 
his  enemy. 

Recovering  himself  with  poor  grace,  the  attorney 
fairly  hissed  :  "  For  this  indignity,  sir,  you'll  be  very 
sorry  latev  on." 

Governor  Randall  leaped  in  between  the  angry 
men  now,  swinging  his  frail  walking-stick  and  shout- 
ing :  "  Hold  up,  you  turkey-cocks,  before  you  spoil 
your  feathers !  "  The  vernacular  of  his  boyhood  came 
most  naturally  in  his  excitement.  "  Here  I've  sat 
until  the  sun's  gone.  Do  you  want  me  to  catch  my 
death  of  cold  ?  And  what  a  sight  this  is  !  Are  you 
not  ashamed,  both  of  you?"  He  took  Hartley  by 
the  arm  and  forced  him  along  towards  the  park  gates. 
"  Pardon  us  all,  Miss  Ma}rneld,  for  such  doings 
before  a  lady.  Horicon,  come  to  the  office  to-morrow. 
I'm  used  to  fights  between  gentlemen,  by  George, 
but  not  this  kind.  This  is  worse  than  a  stormy 
directors'  meeting;  for  there  we  only  call  one  another 
liars,  and  pound  each  other  with  blocks  of  stock. 
Now  get  along  with  you,  Judge." 

Which  order  the  Judge  sullenly  obeyed. 


106  NONE  SUCH? 

"  I  vow,  I'm  shaking  all  over,"  the  Governor  went 
on,  talking  to  himself,  as  he  picked  his  way  among 
the  dusty  mulleins  on  the  roadside.  "  Where's  John 
Clarkson?  I  wish  I  could  meet  that  old  genial  soul. 
Hello,"  glancing  up,  "  by  George,  there  he  is  !  Prowl- 
ing round  always  to  do  some  service  to  me.  I  say, 
John  ! "  he  shouted,  though  Clarkson  was  not  two 
rods  away,  just  emerging  from  the  gates  where  the 
Judge  was  disappearing.  "Got  worried  about  me, 
did  you  ?  Well,  well,  good  soul,  awful  glad  to  see 
you !  We've  had  a  regular  cat  and  dog  time  here. 
Come  and  take  my  arm." 

This  Clarkson  promptly  did,  and  waited  a  moment 
for  any  further  explanations  the  Governor  might  have 
to  offer.  But,  wisely,  Randall,  man  of  iron  self-con- 
trol, decided  to  bury  his  excitement  in  his  own  breast, 
so  far  as  he  could,  and  preserved  an  unbroken  silence. 
His  face,  however,  usually  ashen  pale,  was  deeply 
flushed,  and  his  agitated  frame  spoke  eloquently  to 
his  affectionate  old  friend.  Clarkson  knew  well  how 
to  change  the  channel  of  disturbed  thought  in  his 
patron,  and  began  :  — 

"  Well,  Governor,  how's  the  day  gone  ?  Let's 
g'  over  to  St.  Ann's  an'  hear  th'  music."  For  at  that 
moment  the  vespers  rang  out  on  the  pellucid  air  from 
the  spire  of  the  church  in  the  vale,  —  the  church 
founded  in  memory  of  the  dead  woman  who  had 
always  been  while  living  the  pacificator  of  this 
stormy  spirit. 


THERE    WILL    YET  HE   THOUSANDS.          107 

"  Clarkson,  I  ain't  been  to  church  for  a  year. 
Can't  sit  still,  so  much  business  on  my  mind.  I  can 
seem  to  hear  nothing  if  I  go." 

"  Leave  yer  business  ter  home  when  you  go 
t'  church.  That's  th'  way  I  do  with  my  farm  —  'cept 
when  its  tew  dry  fer  rowin',  then  I  pray  for  rain," 
growled  Clarkson  merrily,  at  the  same  time  fairly 
hugging  the  trembling  form  of  his  friend. 

"  By  George,  Judge  Hartley's  gone  over.  What 
d'  you  suppose  he  prays  for  ?  "  exclaimed  the  Gov- 
ernor, glancing  to  the  east  path,  where  Hartley  was 
to  be  seen  among  the  shrubbery. 

"  Jedge  an'  I  don't  tech  one  another,"  was  Clark- 
son's  chilly  reply. 

"  No,  Clarkson,  you  and  he  wouldn't  touch  more 
than  oil  and  water.  He's  the  oil.  You're  the  pure 
spring  water,  John.  Bless  ye,  John  Clarkson !  I 
want  to  ask  you  to  do  something  for  me.  You  know 
all  these  little  cottages  around  here  ? "  And  the 
Governor  paused  to  look  down  on  the  clustered  habi- 
tations of  the  poor  at  the  distant  cheaper  east  end  of 
the  city  below  them. 

"  Yis,  Hezekiah ;  they're  all  good  friends  of 
yours  and  mine,"  was  the  reply.  "  There  ain't  a 
boy  'twould  steal  any  o'  my  water-melons.  Now, 
ol'  Hod  Pepperell,  ye  know,  owns  the  land  jinin' 
ye  on  th'  east." 

™  Yes,  thrifty  old  chap  !  "  replied  Randall,  gradually 


108  NONE  SUCH? 

growing   calm.      "  Always   wants   to   lend    me    his 
money." 

"  Why,  'zactly  !  He  jest  ez  lives  his  best  friend  on 
airth'd  pay  him  int'rest  money,"  frowned  Clarkson. 

"  That's  the  difference  'twixt  you  two  men.  Now, 
you  lost  your  savings  when  the  bank  bust,  John.  If 
you  had  just  trusted  them  to  me  "  — 

"What?"  and  Clarkson  held  him  off  by  the  arm. 
"  An'  charge  an  old  friend  like  you  int'rist  money? 
Not  ef  I  knowed  myself.  Gosh  !  Savings  banks 
can  pay  me  int'rist,  but  no  friend  can't  pay  me  no 
int'rist,  Governor  Randall." 

"  You're  no  business  man,  John,  but  you've  got  a 
big  heart !  I  like  you.  You  do  me  good."  The 
Governor  now  gave  his  friend  a  hug,  and  his  face 
broke  into  a  smile.  "  How  about  Hod  Pepperell's 
water-melons  ?  " 

"Well,  I  was  a-tellin'  on  ye,"  resumed  John, 
delighted  to  think  his  diversion  had  begun  to  take 
effect.  "Ye  know  a  lot  of  village  boys  will  size  a 
man  up  more  eggsac'ly  '11  any  th'  rest  on  his  neigh- 
bors. They've  got  Hod's  meanness  down  fine,  and 
Hod  loses  lots  o'  melons  'cordin'ly.  So  ye  see  he  — 
he  iled  a  few  'tother  night."  And  John  Clarkson 
loosed  his  hold  to  bend  and  slap  his  knees  and  laugh. 

"  Oiled  his  water-melons  ?  "  echoed  the  Governor, 
all  attention. 

"  Yis,   kerosin    ile    on   a   few  here'n    there ;   and, 


THERE  WILL  YET  BE  THOUSANDS.     109 

Guv'nor,"  again  stopping  to  laugh  till  the  tears  came, 
"he  didn't  mark  'em  akkerately," — shaking  still 
with  laughter,  —  "  an'  it  was  jest  before  his  darter 
Hitabel's  weddin' "  —  John  was  no\v  forced  to  whip 
out  his  handkerchief  and  wipe  away  the  tears  of 
merriment. 

The  Governor  was  yielding  to  the  contagion,  and, 
laughing,  said,  "  I  see.  That  wedding  was  well  oiled 
up,  eh  ?  Struck  ile,  as  it  were,"  prompting  the 
delayed  story. 

"  Yis.  Gosh  !  Now,  I  don't  have  any  trouble  with 
the  boys.  I  get  a  lot  on  'em  in  the  barn ;  an'  I  say, 
"  Now,  ye  urchins,  jest  loosen  your  galluses  an' 
unbutton  yer  waistbands,  an'  eat  till  ye  pop.  See  ?  " 
John  put  up  his  handkerchief,  and  started  the  Gov- 
ernor on  again  through  the  park  homeward. 

"  Oh,  ho,  ye  do  me  good,  John.  Don't  ye  remem- 
ber Deacon  Flint's  melons,  an'  how  we  boys  used  to 
steal  "  - 

u  Borrer,  Guv'nor.  We  borrered  'em,"  John  pro- 
tested, with  mocking  gravity. 

"  Well,  well !  I  suppose  you  send  home  lots  of 
stomach-ache  in  those  boys,  John.  Give  me  the 
story." 

"  I  jest  keep  a-goin'  roun'  an'  sayin' :  '  Unbutton, 
boys,  more  water-melons  a-comin'.  An  ox-cart  on 
'em.  More  ?  '  " 

"  Till  they  pop.    Oh,  ho,  that's  good  !  "     And  now 


110  NONE  SUCH? 

the  Governor  got  out  his  handkerchief  to  wipe  his 
own  laugh-wrinkled  cheeks. 

"  Well,  Guv'nor,  it  satisfies  'em  an'  pertects  my 
garden.  Why  don't  ye  try  it  in  yer  financial  pes- 
terations  ?  " 

Sobering  in  an  instant,  the  Governor  shook  his 
handkerchief  out  as  he  replied :  "  Clarkson,  you're 
a  child.  Why,  how  many  railroad  stocks  and  bonds 
do  you  suppose  it  would  take  to  make  the  Wall 
Street  boys  pop  ?  "  This  seemed  to  be  a  poser,  and 
John  made  no  attempt  to  reply. 

"  Ye  wanted  to  ask  me  somethin',"  said  Clarkson. 

"  Yes ;  do  you  know  where  Jamie  Lamoile  has 
been  sick  ?  " 

"  I  know  Jamie.  Nice  young  man,''  replied  John. 
"  He's  old  skinflint  Mayor  Body's  nephew." 

"Well,  now,"  resumed  the  Governor,  though  he 
made  a  mental  note  to  the  Mayor's  disadvantage, 
"  you  go  down  to  the  city,  by  the  depot,  and  rent  the 
prettiest  store  that  you  can  find  for  a  florist's  stand. 
Then  you  have  the  lease  made  out  for  five  years  in 
Jamie's  name.  And  then  you  go  up  to  his  house  and 
tell  a  lie."  Clarkson  dissented  by  a  vigorous  shake 
of  the  head,  but  the  Governor  went  on :  "  Now, 
don't  be  alarmed.  It's  going  to  be  a  white  one  this 
time,"  with  a  poke  in  his  friend's  ribs,  "  just  for  a 
change.  Tell  Jamie  that  his  aunt  must  have  died, 
and"  — 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  Ill 

"He  ain't  got  no  aunt;  he's  a  Frenchman !"  ex- 
ploded John. 

"  Well,  see  here  —  tell  him  the  beautiful  Miss 
Mayfield's  raised  three  thousand  dollars  to  set  him 
up  in  business  ;  and  it's  all  in  my  bank  to  his 
credit. 

Clarkson's  face  was  now  a  study.  He  quite  threw 
off  his  friend's  arm  for  a  moment  and  stood  looking 
his  admiration.  It  seemed  a  long  time  that  the  two 
men  stood  thus ;  but  it  was  no  time  to  the  eternal 
evening  star  that  had  burned  its  way  through  the 
summer  twilight,  and  beamed  down  upon  Mercy  from 
the  hands  of  man.  As  if  the  star,  ages  old,  knew 
that  here  was  come  again  to  pass  one  of  those  eternal 
events,  a  merciful  deed,  whose  being  and  age  should 
outlast  all  stellar  glories.  The  vesper  bells  soothed 
the  air  in  farewell  benediction  to  the  daylight.  The 
two  weather-beaten  old  men  heard  the  bells  and 
maybe  saw  the  star,  but  brighter  light  and  softer 
music  shone  and  sounded  in  their  hearts.  An  instant 
more,  and  then  John  Clarkson,  throwing  his  arms 
around  the  Governor,  exclaimed,  — 

"  By  gosh,  ol'  hoss,  —  excuse  me,  your  Excel- 
lency. You're  a  genooine  orthodox,  all  wool,  yard 
wide  Christian  believer  in  good  an'  reg'lar  standin'. 
That's  what  ye  alwus  was,  cum  ter  get  at  ye  !  "  He 
shook  the  Governor  in  glee,  who  was  visibly  affected 
by  his  words. 


112  NONE  SUCH? 

"  That's  honest  praise,"  remarked  the  millionaire. 
"  Now  drop  that.  The  other  question  staggers  me. 
What  a  strange  contrast  is  man  !  You  will  say  so, 
John  Clarkson,  when  you  have  heard  the  question." 

"  Out  with  it,  ol'  friend.  Ez  I'm  an  honest  man  I'll 
gin  ye  my  best  wisdom." 

Governor  Randall  hesitated.  He  may  have  been 
decided  in  his  own  mind,  and  in  the  glow  of  his  good 
deed  only  desired  confirmation. 

"  You're  an  honest  man,  and  you'll  tell  me  the 
truth.  That's  what  none  of  the  rest  of  the  crowd 
that's  round  me  will." 

"  Speak  it,  brother  !  " 

"  Hem  !  What  would  you  say  to  my  asking  young 
Miss  Mayfield  to  marry  me  ?  " 

*  If  the  watching  star  had  faded  in  shame  it  could 
not  have  left  the  nightfall  so  dark  as  the  fading  smile 
left  troubled  John  Clarkson's  honest  face.  The  ves- 
pers had  suddenly  ceased  to  ring.  John's  music  of 
the  soul  had  died  more  suddenly.  The  self-love  of 
Clarkson  was  less  than  his  friend's,  else  he  too  would 
have  been  the  millionaire.  He  could  not  understand 
this ;  he  could  not  understand  this  re-assertion  of  self- 
love  in  the  other  man's  tremendously  forcible  nature. 
Strong  men  are  always  most  a  mystery  to  them- 
selves. With  inexpressible  pathos  at  length  John 
replied :  — 

"I'd  say  you  was  an  ol'  fool!"  and  with  that  he 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  113 

offered  to  part  company.  The  Governor  stood  look- 
ing after  him,  then  turned  around  to  see  the  lovers  in 
the  hazy  distance  on  the  hill  yet  visible,  loitering  arm 
in  arm,  and  exclaimed  aloud:  "  He's  right !"  Gov- 
ernor Randall  then  pushed  on,  crying  to  his  retreat- 
ing friend  :  "  Hold  on,  Clarkson.  That's  hoss  sense." 


114  NONE  SUCH? 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  glory  of  the  evening  was  now  full  high ;  and 
all  the  fragrant  air,  smelling  of  night-breathing  leaf- 
age and  grasses  and  flowers  bathed  in  dew,  soothed 
the  troubled  spirits  of  the  lovers.  Young  Horicon 
had  promptly  led  Miss  Mayfield  away  from  the  scene 
of  his  late  encounter  with  the  lawyer,  saying :  — 

"  Forgive  me  this  vulgar  sight.  Walk  to  the 
Lodge  and  forget  it.  Come  and  criticise  my  Kear- 
sarge.  It  is  on  the  easel  yet.  You  shall  select  a 
frame  for  it,  and  then  I'll  send  it  to  the  Academy." 

"  O  Charley,  you  have  something  more  serious  than 
art  on  your  hands,"  protested  the  girl,  who  could  by 
no  means  recover  her  spirits  so  easily. 

"  I  fear  so,"  he  acknowledged.  "  The  Governor  is 
offended  that  I  humiliated  his  favorite." 

"  Not  alone  that.  He  informed  me  that  you  were 
to  leave,"  and  she  glanced  quickly  up  into  his  face 
to  read  the  effect  of  the  dire  announcement. 

The  loss  of  a  good  position  is  one  of  the  most 
serious  events  that  can  betide  a  man,  especially  at  the 
beginning  of  his  career.  It  does  not  always  mean 
disaster  by  any  means ;  yet  at  first  it  always  seems  to 
mean  unspeakable  trouble,  if  not  ruin  itself."  No 
sensible  man  could  receive  such  a  declaration  as  had 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  115 

just  fallen  from  Dorothea's  lips  with  levity,  however 
he  may  have  been  preparing  his  mind  for  it,  or  chiv- 
alrously anxious  to  cheer  the  good  woman  who  felt 
forced  to  tell  it.  Yet  cheerily  the  young,  stout 
heart  replied :  — 

"That  is,  he  has  tired  of  improvements  on  Glen 
Theron  ?  How  he  counts  his  pennies,  dying  old 
man  !  " 

"  But  you  do  not  seem  to  weigh  the  gravity  of 
your  disaster ! " 

"  What !  Shall  I  fall  to  weeping  because  I  must 
change  employers?  Let  the  Hartleys  guard  his 
dollars.  I'm  rather  glad  I'm  not  to  spend  them  on 
his  beautiful  estate,"  continued  Charley,  forcing  his 
gayety  almost  for  her  sake,  while  he  felt  the  quick 
blood  press  his  brain,  as  he  tried  to  see  ahead. 

"  Oh,  Charley,"  she  sighed  in  charming  grief,  "  you 
dreamer!  how  can  we  marry?  " 

"  I  shall  sell  my  plans  for  the  new  Naval  Hospital 
Grounds,"  he  faltered  out  thoughtfully. 

"Poor  boy!  I  am  wiser  than  you.  The  hatred  of 
millions  of  dollars  is  fearful,"  she  went  on.  "  You 
cannot  sell  any  plans  with  that  crafty  old  man  setting 
the  politicians  against  you." 

"  See  here,  Sis,"  Horicon  now  protested,  turning 
upon  her  squarely  and  stopping  the  walk,  "  what  a 
little  trouble-borrower  you  are  !  It's  a  wide  world." 

"  But  not  wide  enough  to  escape  the  spider's  webs 


116  NONE  SUCH? 

that  I  feel  sure  I've  seen  spun  more  than  once  to 
snare  his  opponents  in  that  millionaire's  library. 
Why  did  a  kind  Heaven  let  all  this  happen  ?  " 

Horicon  drew  her  close  to  him,  and  searchingly,  as 
if  he  perceived  a  deeper  trouble  than  she  had  ex- 
pressed, said,  — 

"  Child,  something  has  happened  that  you  are  not 
telling  me." 

"  Yes,  Charley,"  she  faltered ;  "  he  proposed  mar- 
riage to  me,  —  and  I  " 

Charley  stopped  the  sob  she  was  ready  to  utter 
with  a  ringing :  "  Heaven  pity  his  senile  folly  !  " 

"  Listen !  and  I  was  so  shocked  —  I  rebuked  him 
so"  — 

"  Yes,  pretty  preacher !  no  doubt  you  spoke  mm 
plainer  truth  than  all  this  Yankee-land  of  money 
toadyism  has  for  fifty  years.  So  !  And  his  conceit 
is  wounded,  and  his  anger  roused.  And  you  fear  he 
will  crush  me.  Why,  I  like  that."  Quicker  than  it 
can  be  written  he  burst  into  a  song  they  loved  to  sing 
together :  — 

"  O  Evening  Star,  whose  ardent  ray 

Gleams  o'er  the  brow  of  mountain's  blue, 
Like  thee,  fond  star,  when  dies  the  day, 
Burns  bright  the  hope  of  youth,  as  true." 

"  Hark  !  Hark  !  Hear  the  echo !  The  echo  from 
the  hemlocks !  "  The  musical  cadences  came  back 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  117 

softly  through  the  gloaming,  that  sweetest  thing  in 
all  the  range  of  nature's  sounds,  a  twilight  echo. 

"  Charley  Horicon !  how  can  you  ?  You  were 
made  to  enjoy  millions,  —  not  to  fight  them,"  she 
responded,  leaning  hard  against  him,  and  cozily  con- 
scious of  his  strong,  wild  defiance  of  all  evils. 

"  I  envy  no  man  his  millions.  Sing  the  next 
stanza  with  me,  line  by  line,  and  hear  my  new  echo." 

His  new  echo  ?  But  he  gave  her  no  time  to  ques- 
tion, though  as  she  sang  she  remembered  how  he  was 
always  studying  these  novel  effects  from  vantage 
points  about  Glen  Theron. 

"  The  evening  star  to  morning  star —  [echo] 

By  changeling  Time  shall  transformed  be  —  [echo]. 
Look  up,  my  love,  Aurora's  car —  [echo] 
Comes  on  yon  cloud  for  thee  and  me —  [echo]." 

They  chanted  line  by  line.  The  hemlocks  somber- 
ranked  at  the  forest's  edge,  and  silvered  as  to  their 
spiny  tops  above  the  lower  lying  trees,  took  up  each 
word  in  faithful  utterance  of  the  smallest  cadence. 
The  farther  distant  foreland  made  reply,  and  passed 
the  love-song  on,  till,  far  up  the  winding  river,  the 
dulcet  joy,  gone  forth  in  defiance  of  disasters,  seemed 
prevailing  over  every  nightly  shade.  A  prophecy  of 
youth,  its  hope,  its  love.  A  brave,  high-minded, 
competent,  self-reliant,  clarion  call  of  youth,  which 
threw  down  the  gage  of  battle  to  old  age,  sure  to 


118  NONE  SUCH? 

vrin.  Youth  is  everything  —  when  God  can  bless  it, 
because  innocent,  and  bestow  his  wisdom  with  a  wel- 
come. Clean,  strong  youth  is  worth  all  the  rest.  No 
price  should  be  ever  set  upon  it,  for  it  should  never 
be  for  sale. 

"Do  you  know,  Dorothea,  if  I  were  rich,  I  would 
crown  this  hilltop  with  a  rival  of  the  Lick  telescope, 
and  bring  every  poor-born  working-lad  in  the  town 
to  come  and  look  at  God's  stars." 

"  Instead  of  which,  brave  knight,  you  must  be  con- 
tent if  you  earn  your  bread,"  she  objected. 

"  Which  is  the  work  of  no  adventurer,  to  say  the 
least,"  he  replied.  "  What  do  you  suppose  the  old 
scoundrel  meant  by  calling  me  an  adventurer  ?  " 

"You  encouraged  making  Glen  Theron  a  public 
park." 

"  So  did  the  city  press.  But  I  see  it.  I  was  fish- 
ing for  the  superintendency,"  he  laughed  in  high 
derision.  "  Well,  after  his  proposition  to  you  to-day, 
Ex-Governor  Hezekiah  Randall  couldn't  hire  me  for 
a  fortune.  We'll  be  wed  and  living  in  Boston  before 
the  snow  flies." 

"Do  you  know,"  questioned  Dorothea,  as  they 
walked  on,  and  were  now  in  the  deeper  shadows  of 
the  hemlocks,  nearing  her  mother's  cottage,  "  do  you 
know  why  I  trust  you  so  much,  Charley?  It  is  be- 
cause, true  as  Heaven,  you  are  so  hopeful,  so  full  of 
resources.  You  are  never  long  cast  down.  You 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE  THOUSANDS.          119 

spring  from  one  resource  to  another.  You  are  so 
capable.  You  know  what  to  do." 

"Well,  worshiper,  you  are  not  flattering  now?" 
he  asked,  studying  her  words  and  tones,  for  he  could 
not  see  her  face  clearly.  "  It  isn't  much  that  a  man 
should  feel  capable  of  caring  for  his  wife  before  he 
asks  a  woman  to  be  his  wife.  That's  the  greatest 
delight  I  have  in  thinking  you  are  to  be  mine,  that  I 
know,  God  helping,  I  can  care  for  you  as  long  as  you 
live." 

She  was  too  happy  in  the  conscious  proprietorship 
over  this  broad-shouldered,  strong,  and  capable  man 
to  make  reply.  There  is  no  such  ecstasy  ever  pos- 
sible to  a  man.  It  is  given  to  woman  alone  to  ex- 
perience the  very  adoration  of  love.  Her  love  looks 
up  to  the  man.  It  confesses  its  dependence  and  is 
glad  to  confess  it,  not  only  with  no  loss  of  self- 
respect,  but  with  an  actual  sense  of  rights  therewith ; 
for  woman  avenges  herself  by  whispering  to  her  heart, 
"  I  own  my  protector.  He  could  not  live  without  me 
to  defend.  I  still  have  the  mastery." 

On  the  other  hand,  a  man  has  a  sense  of  shame 
if  he  is  the  dependent  one.  It  is  contrary  to  the 
eternal  fitness  of  things,  — •  unless  he  has  been  struck 
down  on  the  field  of  battle,  when  dependence  becomes 
childlike,  inexpressibly  blessed,  to  be  sure,  but  con- 
sciously something  quite  different  from  manly. 

"  A  man  stands  on  his  own  feet  and  helps,"  re- 


120  NONE  SUCH? 

marked  Horicon,  as  he  opened  the  wicket  in  front  of 
the  widow  Mayfield's  cottage.  "  By  so  much  as  he 
falls  short  of  that,  he  falls  short  of  a.  true  man." 

When  he  had  said  his  good-night,  Charles  Horicon 
had  turned  to  the  left  along  the  country  short-cut 
path.  His  way  would  lead  him  through  the  ray  less 
hemlocks,  to  be  sure  ;  but  he  knew  the  path  well,  and 
it  never  occurred  to  him  that  bodily  harm  could  ever 
be  offered  him.  There  was  no  one  in  the  world  tow- 
ards whom  he  cherished  ill-will,  not  even  Judge 
Hartley;  for  as  he  picked  his  way  along  he  was  con- 
scious of  no  other  thought  regarding  his  late  assailant 
than  how  to  avoid  all  future  intercourse  with  him. 

"  If  I  leave  the  Governor's  employ,"  he  was  saying 
to  himself,  "  I  shall  have  no  occasion  to  meet  the 
Judge  again  in  this  wide  world  !  "  His  boyish  heart, 
in  its  wealth  of  youthful  hope  and  resource,  never 
doubted  that  it  was  simply  to  choose,  and  one  man 
need  never  again  meet  another  who  has  caused  him 
unhappiness  in  this  very  wide  world.  "  But  can  I, 
can  the  Governor,  well  afford  to  allow  me  to  go  so 
abruptly  ?  I  have  all  this  work  at  just  about  the 
finishing  point  and  a  gang  of  laborers  here.  The 
poor  old  Governor !  I  would  not  harm  his  interests 
for  the  world." 

He  walked  more  slowly ;  and  into  his  mind  there 
fell  the  dark  shadow  of  a  labor  trouble  whose  nfutter- 
ings  he  had  heard  for  a  month  among  the  workmen 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  121 

on  the  tunnel,  and  also  in  the  Governor's  foundries 
down  in  the  city.  He  did  not  in  the  slightest  as- 
sociate himself  with  the  threatened  dangers.  He 
seemed  never  to  have  dreamed  even  that  his  working 
people,  and  least  of  all  the  thousands  variously  em- 
ployed by  the  Governor's  corporations,  could  asso- 
ciate him  with  the  Governor  and  Hartley,  except  as 
a  fellow  wage-earner. 

"  Hallo,  Cap'n  !  " 

"  Who's  there  ?  "  sharply  demanded  Horicon,  halt- 
ing in  the  pitch  darkness,  and  peering  forward  to  dis- 
cern his  questioner. 

"  Would  you  thank  me  to  tell  you  some  news  that 
was  for  your  good  ?  "  asked  the  voice.  A  deep,  rich 
voice  it  was,  and  the  diction  was  without  a  vulgar 
accent. 

"  Tell  me  who  you  are,  first.     Are  you  alone  ?  " 

"  Never  mind,"  replied  the  voice.  "  I'll .  be  your 
friend  if  you  say  so.  Otherwise  —  well,  take  care  of 
yourself." 

Without  really  thinking  to  arm  himself,  Horicon 
had  yet  secured  a  flinty  stone  from  the  path  and 
clutched  it  with  a  strong  hand.  "I  say,  friend," 
Horicon  resumed,  talking  into  the  darkness  before 
him  from  whence  the  voice  came,  "  you  may  be  an 
angel  of  good,  but  it  seems  to  me  you  are  acting  like 
a  foot-pad  here  in  these  deep  woods.  I  am  not 
frightened  very  badly,  not  very,  you  know,  friend. 


122  NONE  sue  in 

You  must  have  some  acquaintance  with  me,  I  pre- 
sume, since  you  offer  to  tell  me  valuable  news.  Then 
you  must  know  I  don't  scare  worth  a  cent.  It's 
the  threatened  strike,  I  suppose,  you  wish  to  speak 
about." 

"  You're  a  church  member  ?  " 

"  I  am.     What's  that  to  do  with  the  strike  ?  " 

"  Governor  Randall  is  not." 

"Not  a  church  member?  Why,  no.  Come,  get  out 
of  your  ambuscade,  and  we'll  walk  and  talk." 

"  You  are  his  heir,  we  know." 

This  latter  voice  came  from  behind  Horicon.  It 
instantly  suggested  his  being  surrounded.  Horicon 
also  heard  the  crack  of  a  twig  as  if  beneath  a  stealthy 
footstep  on  his  right.  He  had  never  carried  a  revol- 
ver. He  had  never  met  a  trouble  among  the  gangs 
of  large  numbers  of  rough  men  under  his  supervision 
from  time  to  time,  which  he  could  not  quell  by  calm, 
kind,  and  resolute  words.  He  had  believed  the  men 
liked  him.  Several  times  they  had  invited  him  to 
join  their  labor  societies.  Though  he  had  declined, 
he  had  still  twice  represented  federations  in  the  arbi- 
tration of  strikes  with  various  corporations.  "  I  will 
not  join  a  society  which  calls  its  business  meetings 
on  Sunday,"  he  had  objected.  "  But  I  will  always 
remember  that  I,  too,  am  a  working-man  and  help 
you."  What  did  this  last  speaker  mean  by  asserting : 
"  We  know  you  are  his  heir?  " 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  123 

"Boys!"  he  cried,  "what's  your  game?  Whose 
heir  do  you  say  I  am  ?  ' ' 

"  Heir  to  old  Randall's  millions,  curse  'em  ! "  was 
the  hoarse  reply.  "Don't  the  whole  town  know  it? 
Have  you  not  stepped  into  all  this  vast  wealth  with- 
out half  trying?  What  have  you  ever  done  to  earn 
it  all  ?  We,  and  the  like  of  us,  we  earned  it  all  for 
the  old  man.  Yet  now  he  consults  a  mere  fancy,  a 
whim,  an  old  man's  caprice,  not  the  eternal  law  of 
right,  and  gives  all  this  to  you.  It's  because  the  old 
cur  don't  know  what  else  to  do  with  it.  And  you 
take  these  millions  of  ours,  you  handsome  young 
whelp,  and  you  call  yourself  a  Christian.  Bah  !  " 

Horicon  felt  his  blood  grow  hot  under  the  insult. 
He  was  not  conscious  of  the  smallest  fear,  though,  as 
in  an  undertone,  his  reason  whispered  that  single- 
handed  and  alone  in  the  darkness  there  he  probably 
was  in  danger. 

"  I  see  your  point,"  Horicon  answered :  "  you  think 
I  have  known  I  was  the  heir  of  this  estate,  and  yet 
have  greedily  and  meanly  grubbed  away  here  to 
increase  my  wealth,  working  side  by  side  with 
you?" 

"  That's  about  it,"  the  voice  in  front  replied,  with 
a  laugh  of  derision.  "  At  any  rate,  you  no  longer  feel 
for  us."" 

"  And  I  tell  you,  all  of  you  cowards  about  me  here, 
that  you  lie  !  " 


124  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Hold,  don't  strike  him  !  " 

Horicon  heard  the  sound  of  shuffling  feet,  and  the 
heavy  breathing  of  men  in  struggle  with  one  an- 
other. He  could  only  hold  himself  upon  the  defen- 
sive and  await  the  issue.  Presently  he  thought  he 
recognized  the  voice  of  the  man  who  had  obstructed 
his  path  now  expostulating  in  the  rear,  saying : 
"  You  know  very  well  what  we  were  to  propose 
to  Horicon."  The  speaker  seemed  out  of  breath, 
as  if  restraining  some  one.  Discretion  seemed  the 
better  part  of  valor,  and  Horicon  began  to  move  on. 
He  knew  five  minutes  must  bring  him  nearly  out 
of  the  hemlocks  and  within  hailing  distance  of  the 
night  watchman  at  the  north  gate  of  Glen  Theron. 

"  I  must  ask  you  to  wait  where  you  are."  The 
challenge  came  from  straight  before  him  again. 
Charley  recognized  it  as  that  of  one  of  the  private 
watchmen  of  Glen  Theron  itself,  and  answered,  with 
tones  of  astonishment,  — 

"  Hallo,  Carlton,  is  that  you  ?  What  does  this 
mean  ?  " 

"  It  means,"  said  the  voice  that  had  first  accosted 
him,  as  its  owner  now  came  springing  after  him,  "that 
not  even  millionaires  can  hire  guards  whom  the  great 
cause  of  human  rights  cannot  recall  to  a  higher  duty. 
Think  of  it,  Horicon !  This  is  what  it  is  to  be  a 
millionaire.  You  must  take  leave  of  your  personal 
liberty.  You  cannot  move  abroad  as  other  free  men 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  125 

do.  You  will  be  obliged  to  guard  yourself  on  the 
street,  guard  yourself  in  your  house,  guard  yourself 
in  your  office.  You  cannot  ride  in  a  car,  even,  with 
your  fellow-citizens  where  the  touch  and  sight  of 
Sacred  Humanity  is  all  about  you.  You  must  travel 
in  your  private  car.  You  are  to  be  shut  off  from 
men.  You  are  hereafter  to  regard  with  quick  sus- 
picion every  man,  woman,  or  child  who  comes  newly 
into  your  presence,  and  even  ask  yourself  of  all  men 
whom  you  meet :  '  How  much  of  my  money  does  this 
one  want,  now  ?  ' 

"  I'm  sick  of  this  speechifyin'  here  in  the  dark. 
Get  at  things,"  hoarsely  and  impatiently  demanded 
some  one. 

"  Well,  boys,"  exclaimed  Charley  Horicon,  not  al- 
together forcing  the  laugh,  either,  for  things  began 
to  look  less  serious  now  that  the  American  safety- 
valve  of  a  speech  had  operated  to  some  extent,  "  I 
don't  think  you  want  to  murder  me.  Come,  now, 
let's  get  along  into  the  starlight  and  talk.  Come 
over  to  my  lodge.  It  is  not  far  away.  I  want  to  say 
one  thing  to  you :  these  millions  are  not  mine,  never 
will  be  mine,  and  never  have  been  sought  by  me." 

"What?  Hain't  you  seen  the  evenin'  paper? 
How  do  you  account  for  that?"  asked  one  of  the 
voices.  At  the  same  time  the  speaker  manifested  a 
disposition  to  yield  to  Horicon's  suggestion  and  walk 
along. 


126  NONE  SUCH? 

"  What's  in  the  evening  paper  ?  "  demanded  Hori- 
con. 

"  Why,  it's  all  out  in  an  interview  with  Judge 
Hartley,  that  he  don't  consider  himself  responsible 
for  what  may  be  occasion  of  dissatisfaction  to  Gov- 
ernor Randall's  workmen.  He  says  they  had  better 
consult  young  Mr.  Horicon.  He  intimates  all  this 
news  the  second  time  now  of  late,  that  you  manage 
things  that  used  to  be  confided  to  him  alone.  It  was 
an  interview  with  Grandmaster  Hopedale,  wasn't  it, 
boys  ?  "  This  last  by  way  of  confirmation. 

Charley  Horicon  was  silent.  He  saw  it  all  now. 
The  Judge  had  been  for  years  spokesman  between 
Governor  Randall  and  any  dissatisfied  employe's, 
whether  in  railroad  shops,  along  the  lines,  or  in  any 
of  his  numerous  manufactories.  Where  the  Judge 
dared  he  had  been  harsh  and  hard,  giving  short 
answers.  Where  he  dared  not  pursue  the  iron  rule, 
he  had  used  parley,  sophistry,  and  lying  evasion.  He 
had  gone  farther  :  in  the  solitary  office  where  he  had 
the  Governor's  ear  alone  he  had  invariably  advised 
resistance,  and  many  times  invented  hardships  for 
the  breadwinners,  for  his  heart  was  solely  with  Cap- 
ital, his  god.  Many  a  blow  had  he  struck  by  using 
the  rich  man's  hand  without  the  owner's  knowing  it. 

"  I  am  not  calculated  to  get  on  with  men,"  the 
Governor  used  to  say,  "  I'm  too  soft-hearted,  Hartley. " 

"  Yes,  that  is  so,"  the  Board  of  Directors  echoed 


THERE  WILL  YET  BE  THOUSANDS.    127 

as  often  as  they  heard  it.  "  Judge,  we  leave  it  to 
you." 

"  I'm  all  financiering,"  the  Governor  used  some- 
times in  moods  of  confidence  to  explain.  "  I  like  to 
fight  rich  men,  confound  'em,  and  down  rem,  too,  by 
George !  When  it's  a  hig  war  of  millions,  call  me  in, 
Judge ;  but  these  here  poor  devils,  like  I  used  to  be 
when  I  started,  the  workmen  and  their  huts  full  of 
babies,  don't  get  me  mixed  up  with  them.  I  vow  I 
wish  they  were  all  rich.  I'd  like  to  see  myself  push- 
ing against  them  !  I'd  kick  myself,  Judge." 

"  But  you  want  me  to  do  it,"  the  Judge  once 
replied  with  smiling  secret  gratification.  "  It's  got  to 
be  done,  Randall.  Capital  is  a  regular  cider-press. 
You  remember  the  old  mill  at  the  cross-roads  ?" 

At  which  the  old  financier  shook  his  head  sadly, 
remarking,  "  The  cider  was  sometimes  the  color  of 
blood,  Judge.  I  don't  like  the  illustration.  I  don't, 
don't,  don't !  I  like  to  make  money.  I  can't  help  it. 
But,  by  George  !  I  wish  it  could  be  done  without  mak- 
ing anybody  unhappy.  Millions  of  money  made  by 
making  millions  of  men  mad !  It  isn't  God's  way. 
Anna  don't  like  it." 

All  this  history  young  Horicon  did  not  fully  know. 
But  he  knew  enough  to  be  certain  of  the  cordial 
hatred  in  which  Hartley  had  been  held  for  years  by 
his  fellow-citizens.  He  knew,  too,  that  of  late  years 
something  of  all  this  bitterness  had  been  slowly  trans- 


128  NONE  SUCH? 

ferring  itself  to  the  millionaire  himself.  The  people 
asked  why  he  kept  Hartley  in  place.  They  refused 
to  re-elect  the  Governor  by  a  considerable  majority  on 
his  second  canvass.  Politics  are  dangerous  for  very 
rich  men.  The  newspapers  hold  a  licensed  lantern 
during  campaigns,  and  speak  out  with  little  reserve. 

"  Boys,"  said  Horicon,  as  they  had  now  emerged 
from  the  hemlocks,  "  now  listen  to  me.  You  are 
wrong.  This  great  wealth,  I  repeat,  is  not  mine.  I 
have  no  remotest  hope  of  it.  I  am  hurt  in  prospects 
by  the  very  rumor  that  I  am  a  favorite  with  the  Gov- 
ernor. And  old  Hartley,  the  scoundrel,  has  pur- 
posely circulated  this  story  to  do  me  harm.  In 
my  opinion,  he  will  swallow  Governor  Randall's 
millions." 

"  I  allus  said  so,"  blurted  out  one  of  the  men. 

"And  he  wants'  to  throw  on  me  the  unpopularity 
which  he  has  always  carried." 

"  It  looks  that  way,  don't  it  ? "  said  the  same 
speaker. 

"  Hartley  is  pushing  the  new  reduction  of  wages  !  " 
exclaimed  Horicon.  "  If  I  were  a  rich  man  —  Why, 
boys,  is  it  possible  you  know  me  so  little  as  not  to 
know  what  my  theory  of  the  use  of  great  wealth  is  ?  " 

"  You  are  a  great  church  fellow,  though,  and  hand 
in  glove  with  the  kid-gloved  beggars.  You'd  rather 
give  to  brothers  in  Africa  to  send  them  to  heaven 
above  than  to  an  honest  American  to  help  him  raise 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  129 

up  a  family  of  boys  and  girls  to  live  in  this  world." 
The  harsh,  unyielding  tone  of  the  speaker  showed 
that  he  was  not  at  all  disposed  to  relax  the  purpose 
which  had  emboldened  them  to  waylay  a  man  in  a 
dark  wood  at  night. 

"  Look  at  me,"  demanded  Horicon.  The  light 
was  dim,  but  it  sufficed  to  reveal  the  young  man. 
"  I  thought  I  knew  you.  Now  I  am  certain.  You 
are  Rev.  Samuel  Althorp's  son.  You  and  I  are  both 
preachers'  sons.  You  are  the  young  man  who  gradu- 
ated from  the  high  school  two  years  ago,  and  pro- 
posed to  be  yourself  a  preacher." 

"Yes,"  replied  young  Althorp,  "Peter  Althorp, 
that's  who  I  am,  —  apostle  of  liberty,  called,  by  the 
prophets  of  St.  Greed,  labor  agitator." 

"  What  do  you  want,  Althorp  ?  " 

"  That  you  meet  us  face  to  face  at  the  Labor 
Assembly  to-morrow  morning.  You  dare  not." 

"  I  attend  church  Sabbath  mornings,"  replied  Hori- 
con soberly,  and  yet  with  a  hesitation  that  showed 
reflection.  In  fact,  his  mind  was  oppressed.  If  it 
had  been  told  him  a  year  before  that  he,  his  father's 
son,  reared  in  the  Methodist  Church,  would  so  much 
as  indulge  the  thought  of  breaking  the  Sabbath  by 
abandoning  the  church  for  a  noisy  labor  meeting 
"  where  men  discuss  as  near  dynamite  as  they  dare." 
as  he  had  often  heard  it  charged,  he  would  have  been 
shocked  beyond  measure.  But  times  had  changed. 


130  NONE  SUCH? 

He  himself  was  no  longer  in  the  cloistered  protection 
of  the  school,  mingling  with  happy  youth  solely,  who 
saw  the  world  from  a  schoolroom  or  a  playground, 
nor  shut  up  to  the  calm  and  believing  society  of  the 
parsonage. 

"What  say  you?  "  sharply  broke  in  Althorp  upon 
his  meditations.  "  Would  Jesus  Christ  refuse  to 
come  down  to  our  hall  if  he  were  in  town  to-morrow; 
that  is,  after  he  had  spent  the  forenoon  being  wor- 
shiped-up  at  some  of  the  fashionable  churches?  " 

Aside  from  the  sarcasm  and  blasphemy  in  the 
question,  the  idea  startled  Horicon.  It  seemed  so 
likely  that  the  great  Physician  would  not  only  not  de- 
cline to  go  among  "  these  publicans,"  but  would  seek 
the  lost  sheep  that  he  might  confer  with  them,  that 
Horicon  instantly  replied  in  a  decision  that  affected 
all  his  after  life,  — 

"  I  will  be  there." 

"  Good !  good  !  "  they  all  said  it. 

"  Where  ?  "  asked  Horicon. 

"At  Harmony  Hall,  off  Franklin  Street,  near 
Court  Street,  top  floor,  at  10.30  A.M.  Good-night! 
Come,  boys!"  Althorp  spoke  the  order  as  he  gave 
reply ;  and  the  unknown  escort  who  had  been  about 
Horicon  broke  into  a  plunging  run  and  were  gone,  as 
if  they  feared  to  leave  him  a  chance  for  any  condi- 
tions to  his  acceptance. 

In  fact,  however,  the  following  circumstance  better 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  131 

explains  Grand  Master  Althorp's  sudden  departure. 
A  coupe*  was  at  that  moment  brought  to  a  halt  in 
front  of  the  Glendire,  a  second-rate  hotel  in  the  city, 
a  good  two  miles  away.  This  coupe's  movements 
might  have  been  known  to  Althorp ;  and  surely  he 
must  have  been  aware  that  Judge  Hartley,  who 
alighted  from  it,  might  be  soon  impatient.  Hence 
Althorp's  haste,  as  if  he  had  a  delayed  report  to 
make.  The  Judge  moved  hastily  and  furtively.  He 
had  a  key  to  a  certain  room,  and  climbed  immediately 
up  to  it,  without  showing  a  great  man's  face  in  the 
little  gossipy  office.  It  was  in  this  room  on  the 
second  floor  that  Althorp  soon  stood  face  to  face 
with  the  morose  and  impatient  Judge,  attorney  to 
various  Randall  corporations,  and  vice-president  to 
others,  trustee  for  various  Randall  public  libraries 
and  asylums,  and  managing-director  of  several  mis- 
sionary societies  of  free  thought,  not  to  speak  of  the 
office  of  deacon  in  the  most  exclusive  church  in 
town,  from  whence  he  had,  some  ten  years  before 
this  history,  resigned  when  he  had  judicially  de- 
cided that  there  was  no  God. 

"I  say,  Althorp,"  the  Judge  began  by  way  of  pre- 
lude while  waiting,  "  I've  been  thinking  that  you 
must  have  been  a  member  of  my  Sunday-school  class 
when  I  used  to  be  guilty  of  such  foolishness  up  at 
the  Broad-street  Church  years  ago." 

"  I  was,  Judge,"  replied  the  young  man,  with  just 


132  NONE  SUCH? 

a  shadow  of  pain  settling  on  his  pale  face.  "And 
the  doubts  you  then  expressed  about  the  Bible  bore 
fruit  in  twelve  years  with  me,  though  sooner  with 
you,  I  hear.  I,  too,  have  thrown  over  the  idea  that 
there  is  any  great  Being  who  cares  for  us  men  — 
except,  possibly,  as  an  elephant  may  care  for  a  fly  on 
his  back." 

The  Judge  laughed  bitterly,  and  yet  with  a  strain 
of  savage  exultation  in  the  sound.  Then  lie  squarely 
opened  the  subject  in  hand  with  :  "  Althorp,  a  month 
ago  I  gave  .you  three  hundred  dollars,  and  told  you 
there  must  be  no  strike  at  the  Randall  planing-mills 
in  Maine." 

"  You  asked  my  help,"  was  the  reply,  as  Althorp 
pulled  at  his  feeble  black  mustache,  pinching  the 
hairs,  "  and  there  was  no  strike." 

"True.  Make  it  easy  for  yourself;  you  doubtless 
distributed  the  money  among  the  widows  and  orphans 
of  your  various  lodges." 

Ignoring  the  sarcasm,  Althorp  demanded  with 
brazen  coolness,  "  I  came  to  report  that  Charles 
Horicon  would  be  present  at  our  Sunday  lodge  meet- 
ing." 

"  He  has  assented,  has  he  ?  " 

"  If  he  had  not  assented,"  said  Althorp,  "  we  were 
prepared  to  secure  his  attendance  by  force  in  the 
compromising  position  of  a  partaker  at  a  Sabbath- 
breaking  labor  agitators'  meeting,  just  before  a 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  138 

strike."  He  pinched  his  mustache  and  seemed  to 
be  reading  from  a  memorandum  of  instructions, 
though  the  hand  held  before  him  was  empty. 

"Good  !  Now  I  shall  surprise  you,"  continued  the 
Judge,  rubbing  his  chin. 

"  You  will  not  unless  it  be  in  the  size  of  your 
contribution."  Althorp  now  gave  him  an  unquailing 
shot  from  his  own  black  eyes,  the  first  time  that  they 
had  been  lifted.  The  feeble  black  mustache  was  left 
to  itself  now. 

"  I  shall  surprise  you.  I  have  twice  paid  you  — 
loaned  you  several  hundreds  of  dollars  that  there 
should  be  no  strikes  at  certain  times." 

"Now  you  will  loan  me  a  thousand  dollars  that 
there  be  a  big  strike  among  all  the  switchmen  of  the 
main  line,  and  the  blame  of  it  is  to  be  laid  on  Charles 
Horicon.  Oh,  I  know  you  !  " 

Judge  Hartley  stepped  to  the  window,  but  it  was 
closed,  even  on  this  hot  night ;  to  the  door,  turned 
the  key,  opened  it,  closed  it,  locked  it; 'but  even  then 
seemed  to  fear  some  one  might  hear  so  strange  a  tale 
I  as  this  promoting  a  strike  by  a  chief  official  of  a  rail- 
road for  an  end  of  his  own. 

"  Oh,  there  is  no  one  to  hear,"  said  the  labor-leader 
calmly.  "  The  programme  will  be  faithfully  carried 
out.  The  strike  will  occur.  There  will  be  some 
bloodshed,  possibly  a  fire  or  two,  and  the  usual  news- 
paper howl.  But  your  man  will  be  ruined.  Price, 
a  thousand  dollars." 


134  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Heavens,  man !  you  come  high." 

"  But  you  must  have  me." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,  Althorp.  There  are  others  high 
in  influence  among  these  workingmen." 

"  Yes,  Judge  Hartley,  but  not  many,  thank  the 
Fates,  who  will  sell  out  their  brethren  as  I  do  to- 
night." 

Hartley  walked  nearer  his  young  pupil.  The 
Judge  was  never  seated  when  excited,  and  he  had  not 
asked  Althorp  to  be  seated.  He  brought  his  hand 
down  squarely  on  the  young  man's  shoulder,  reply- 
ing to  the  last  remark,  "  My  young  friend,  I  have 
always,  yes,  sir,  always  bought  peace  with  the 
strikers.  There  is  not  a  man  in  America  who 
employs  help  who  does  not  have  the  chance  to  do  it. 
Any  man  is  a  fool  who  does  not  do  it,  for  otherwise 
it  means  fight.  Capital  is  a  coward,  and  a  coward 
always  sneaks.  I  don't  deny  it.  But,  my  young 
friend,  a  sneak  can  always  win." 

"  I  should  say  there  was  a  good  deal  of  the  sneak 
in  your  hesitation  to  pay  me  a  thousand  dollars  now," 
replied  Althorp  without  quailing. 

"Your  price  is  too  high." 

"  Price,  you  old  oppressor !  "  hissed  Althorp,  break- 
ing away  from  the  lawyer's  hold.  "  See  what  you  ask. 
You  are  playing  a  game  for  thirty-five  millions  of 
dollars." 

"Who  told  you  that?" 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  135 

"Am  I  master  workman  amidst  these  very 
millions,  millions  wrung  out  like  blood  drops  from 
my  uncle,  my  two  brothers,  three  sisters,  slaves  in 
yonder  old  factory  of  Randall's  since  the  law  would 
permit,  and  wrung,  sir,  out  of  me,  for  are  not  my 
lungs  full  of  steel  till  I  am  doomed  to  die  in  five 
years?  I,  who  have  breathed  above  Randall's 
emery  wheels  till  I  can  scarcely  breathe  the  free  air 
that  I  have  stepped  into  since  I  rebelled,  and  began 
to  match  his  plottings  with  plottings  of  my  own,  do 
you  suppose  I  do  not  know  your  game?  Have  I 
no  thought  or  care  what  becomes  of  my  millions  — 
yes,  sir,  my  millions  ?  " 

"  There,  there,"  softly  expostulated  the  attorney. 
"  Don't  argue.  You  say  a  thousand  dollars  ?  " 

"  No ;  I  say  a  thousand  dollars  for  thoroughly 
blackening  the  name  of  an  old  schoolmate,  Horicon, 
in  the  estimation  of  Governor  Randall.  I  say  five 
hundred  dollars  more  for  breaking  the  heart  of  a 
beautiful  girl,  for  I  do  not  believe  she  will  marry 
Governor  Randall  and  console  herself  "  — 

"  Great  Heavens !  you  accursed  spy  !  "  exclaimed 
the  Judge.  "What  are  you  saying?"  At  the  same 
time  the  Judge  offered  to  pull  the  long  red-tasseled 
call-bell  rope,  but  at  once  thought  better  of  it. 

Althorp  now  leaned  against  the  mantel,  pinching 
the  feeble  mustache  and  talking  to  the  floor  appar- 
ently, as  his  eyes  wandered  from  one  worn  figure  to 


136  NONE  SUCH? 

another  of  the  carpet.  "  No,  there  are  yet  five  hun- 
dred dollars  more  to  be  added  for  doing  an  injury  to 
still  another  beautiful  girl  whom  your  son  dotes  on. 
You  mean  to  break  off  that  match.  Oh,  do  not 
squirm  !  What  is  this  city  but  a  big  village  in  which 
we  all  —  Dorothea  Mayfield,  Hennie  Sampson,  your 
son,  my  sisters,  brothers,  and  myself  —  have  grown 
up  together  in  the  high  school  ?  Our  fathers  were 
all  poor  together.  The  Fates  have  given  Randall, 
Sampson,  and  you  millions,  but  Mr.  Mayfield  and  my 
father  beggar's  graves.  I  know  what  I  am  saying." 

A  low,  long  whistle  was  the  great  attorney's  only 
reply. 

"  And  as  I  am  to  let  the  strike  go  on,  one  of  the 
most  disastrous,  possibly,  in  the  history  of  this  town, 
with  dynamite  at  the  Boston  end,  I  say  I'll  add  one 
thousand  dollars  more  to  my  price  if  you  hesitate 
any  longer."  Althorp  held  the  smallest  pinch  of 
that  black  mustache  tightly  between  his  thumb  and 
fingers,  as  if  it  were  the  gullet  of  the  Judge,  and  he 
was  squeezing  his  life  out  of  him. 

"  Here,  here,"  was  Hartley's  surrendering  reply, 
as  he  produced  his  plethoric  pocket-book  and  began 
to  count  out  the  bills,  laying  them  one  by  one  on  the 
table. 

"  There  are  only  five  one  hundred  dollar  bills," 
said  Althorp,  merely  deigning  to  count  from  his 
place  by  the  mantel. 


THERE    WILL    YET  HE   THOUSANDS.  137 

"  That  was  what  I  expected  to  pay.  It  is  more 
than  we  pay  for  the  average  alderman  or  legis- 
lator at  the  capital.  You  will  trust  me  for  the  rest. 
Two  thousand  dollars !  Phew!  These  workingmen 
are"  — 

"  Getting  more  than  your  father  got  for  his  toil, 
who  was  a  horseshoer  at  the  Four  Corners,"  sneered 
Al  thorp. 

"  Well,  well,  say  no  more.  A  check  is  out  of  the 
question,  of  course.  I  must  get  you  bills.  You  will 
trust  me?" 

"Trust  you?  That's  too  good.  Why,  you  old 
worshiper  of  other  men's  dollars,  you  would  walk 
on  your  hands  and  knees  up  to  the  hemlocks  by 
Monday  night  to  meet  me  and  pay  me,  if  necessary. 
I  come  high,  but  I  Lm  rare." 

Was  he  rare  ?  Some  say  yes,  some  say  no,  this 
walking  delegate,  master  workman,  and  what  not. 
He  had  sold  the  future  very  confident!}",  and  seemed 
to  feel  able  to  deliver  the  goods.  Such  speculation 
is  not  rare  among  capitalists  surely ;  but  whether 
Althorp  was  rare  in  his  purchasable  treason  is  the 
question.  Why  did  he  sell  out  so  cheaply?  That  is 
the  most  natural  element  in  the  affair  when  you  come 
to  think  of  it.  He  loved  power,  but  real  wealth  would 
have  dethroned  him  among  his  fellows.  Envy  and 
jealousy  would  pry  down  his  throne.  A  few  thou- 
sand, please,  to  go  and  come  on,  to  buy  a  man  or  two 


138  NONE  SUCH? 

with,  price,  ten  dollars ;  to  put  away  in  a  savings 
bank  for  the  sure  day  of  abdication.  But  money  for 
dress,  for  palace,  for  acres  of  lawn,  for  horses,  pictures, 
servants,  the  millionaire's  prizes  of  life  ?  —  never. 
Twenty-five  hundred  dollars  will  do  this  time. 


THEliE    \\'1LL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  139 


CHAPTER   VI. 

"  DOROTHEA,  I  am  going  to  do  a  strange  thing," 
said  Charley  Horicon  the  next  morning.  He  stood 
in  front  of  the  Widow  Mayfield's  cottage,  dressed  in 
his  best,  as  became  the  day ;  but  there  was  little  of 
Sabbath  rest  in  the  young  man's  anxious  face.  In 
fact,  he  had  passed  the  night  in  more  or  less  wakeful 
study  of  his  life  problem,  anxious-,  like  one  who  had 
come  to  the  parting  of  the  ways. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  on  Sunday,  Charley  ?  " 
asked  Dorothea  as  she  rose  up  to  greet  him,  casting 
down  the  preparation  of  her  Sunday-school  lesson 
work,  where  it  fluttered  unheeded  on  the  veranda  step. 
She  put  her  arm  through  his  and  started  to  conduct  him 
across  the  little  grass  plot  to  the  shade  of  the  big  maple 
in  the  corner  of  the  yard.  How  lovely  she  looked  in 
her  big  white  hat  and  soft  white  dress  trimmed  with 
pink  ribbons,  fluttering  in  the  breeze!  Her  quick 
anxiety  as  she  read  her  lover's  face  \vas  very  charm- 
ing to  him.  As  she  put  up  a  pretty  hand  to  hold  on 
her  hat,  the  movement  caught  one  of  her  curls,  and 
sent  that  flying  with  her  ribbons.  The  young  man 
patiently,  and  bunglingly,  of  course,  from  his  own 
point  of  view,  helped  to  catch  and  make  fast  these 
airy  nothings  that  bind  men's  hearts  like  hawsers, 


140  NONE  SUCH? 

and  meanwhile  forced  his  resolution  for  a  dire  con- 
fession. 

"  I  am  going  to  attend  the  Sunday  morning  session 
of  the  workingman's  church,  the  Church  of  St.  Tubal 
Cain." 

Her  brown  eyes  certainly  took  him  all  in,  from 
head  to  foot,  but  not  his  meaning.  So  he  resumed : 
"  I  have  often  called  your  attention  to  the  fact  that 
not  only  Ex-Governor  Hezekiah  Randall  and  his  ilk, 
but  the  Jamie  Lamoiles,  the  Peter  Althorps,  and  such 
people  at  the  other  end  of  the  social  ladder,  do  not 
attend  church.  These  latter  are  gathered  on  Sun- 
days, with  the  exception  of  a  few  whom  Miss  Hennie 
Sampson  gets  to  her  missions  and  reading-rooms,  in 
labor  halls.  There  the  men  discuss,  not  the  will  of 
God,  but  as  near  dynamite  as  they  dare.  It  is  not 
heaven  these  suffering  men  are  anxious  about,  but  a 
decent  chance  in  this  world." 

"And  you  are  going  there?"  She  actually  put 
away  his  kind,  clumsy  fingers  as  they  were  reaching 
again  for  the  strand  that  held  the  hat  in  this  breeze. 

"  Yes,  you  old-fashioned  saint !  I  am  going  to  talk 
with  these  men.  I  am  going  to  ask  you  to  supply 
my  place  at  St.  Ann's  Sunday-school  for  once  —  and 
your  own  place  too,  if  I  dare,  for  I  must  have  you 
with  me." 

She  stepped  clean  back  out  of  his  reach,  and  sup- 
ported herself  by  clinging  to  the  hammock-rope, 


THE  HE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  141 

which  upward  reaching  revealed  her  shapely  arm 
almost  in  the  attitude  of  thrusting  him  away. 

"  Take  me  !  "  she  exclaimed  in  measureless  aston- 
ishment. 

"  I  must  have  a  truthful  witness  to  what  I  say  and 
do  there,"  he  added  with  firmness. 

"  It  is  a  snare,  anyway,  Charley,"  protested  Doro- 
thea excitedly.  "  No  matter  what  you  say,  you  will 
be  committed  to  the  side  of  labor  agitation.  Depend 
upon  it,  Judge  Hartley  is  behind  this.  You  know 
very  well  that  we  are  old-fashioned,  you  and  I,  in  our 
beliefs  on  — on  these  subjects."  She  was  so  distressed 
that  it  was  difficult  for  her  to  express  her  mind. 

"  I  know,  dearest,  that  you  believe  a  woman  was 
made  for  home  and  society,  not  for  rostrums.  I 
would  not  myself  allow  you,  —  pardon  me,  I  mean 
I  would  not  ask  you,  to  go  on  this  platform.  I  only 
want  you  to  be  present  to  hear  me.  You  yourself 
are  a  teacher." 

"Yes,"  she  replied  thoughtfully,  though  as  if  her 
mind  were  busy  with  the  outcome  of  all  this.  "A 
woman  may  teach,  but  it  is  not  the  most  lovable  of 
her  offices  by  any  means.  She  may  teach  for  her 
bread,  say ;  but  it  is  not  my  ideal." 

"  No,  no,"  he  protested.  "  There  was  a  man 
created  to  earn  bread  for  every  woman.  I  agree 
with  you  that  Hennie  Sampson  is  wrong.  She  be- 
lieves that  her  philosophies  are  the  cure-all.  Women 


142  NONE  sucii? 

are  to  be  lawyers,  physicians,  and  business  characters, 
not  from  necessity,  by  any  means,  but  from  choice. 
She  believes  in  the  cure  by  flowers,  Browning,  and 
soups." 

"  She  thinks  herself  very  religious,"  added  Dor- 
othea. 

"  Yes,  after  her  sort.  It  is  not  our  religion,  by 
any  means,"  he  continued.  "  She  really  ought  to 
please  Judge  Hartley  for  a  daughter-in-law,  and 
probably  would,  except  that  she  acknowledges  a 
God,  and  has  as  profound  a  reverence  for  Jesus 
Christ  as  she  has  for  Emerson." 

"  Almost,"  said  Dorothea  sadly.  "  But  she  is  a 
dear  good  girl.  She  is  too  good  for  that  family." 

The  sweet-toned  "Preparation  bell  "  at  nine  o'clock 
of  the  New  England  Sabbath  morning  now  rung  out 
melodiously  from  one  church  spire  after  another. 
They  were  both  silent  to  listen.  This  once  hallowed 
and  welcome  sound  has  of  late  become  rare,  even  in 
New  England,  as  cities  grow  and  villages  become 
cities,  and  men's  reverence  has  not  improved  nor 
increased.  The  girl  was  in  the  habit  of  awaiting  the 
bells,  sitting  where  Horicon  just  found  her,  conning 
her  fond  task  these  summer  mornings,  in  preparation 
for  the  Sunday-school  class,  and  awaiting,  too,  Super- 
intendent Horicon's  coming  to  conduct  her  to  morn- 
ing service. 

Dorothea  Mayfield,  watching  the  clouds  that  built 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  143 

themselves  into  castles  before  her,  as  they  arched  the 
landscape,  stretching  for  miles  past  the  white  towers 
of  Glen  Theron,  had  there  often  had  her  dreams  of  a 
teaching  which  she  never  told.  Even  now,  as  she 
caught  sight  in  the  distance  of  the  aged  Ex-Governor 
early  abroad,  as  is  the  wakeful  habit  of  old  men, 
and  leading  three  or  four  children  whom  he  had 
mustered  at  his  farmer's  and  groom's  cottages,  her 
woman's  heart  inspired  these  dreams  anew.  The 
maidenly  secret  was  all  her  own.  What  pictures  she 
drew  of  that  fair  future  and  her  great  career  in  life ! 
Many  a  Sabbath  morning,  aroused  by  the  melody  of  the 
bells,  —  those  nine  o'clock  bells  of  the  New  England 
Sabbath, — had  she  looked  away  from  the  imagined 
chapel-class  of  little  ones,  the  children  of  others,  for 
whose  sake  she  was  studying  the  Ancient  Book,  and 
dreamed  her  dream  of  a  home.  Did  the  old  Govern- 
or pelt  the  distant  children  with  blossoms  snatched 
from  the  shrubbery  ?  Did  he,  there  yonder,  stumble 
about  with  clumsy  feet  in  hide-and-seek  among  the 
borders  with  them?  Did  he  submit  to  capture,  then 
escape,  and  shout  his  victory  with  the  thin  tones  of 
age  ?  Did  he  now  draw  a  long  breath  apparently, 
and  give  up  his  bony  hands  and  the  skirts  of  his 
dressing-jacket  to  their  tugging  little  cushion-like 
fingers,  as  he  strolled  in  happy  fatigue  across  the 
velvet  green  ? 

She  had  her  dream,  inspired  by  the  scene,  a  most 


144  NONE  SUCH? 

maidenly  dream,  filled  up  with  pictured  faces  fairer 
than  angels,  with  herself  the  center  of  such  a 
heavenly  world,  herself  not  aged  nor  with  answering 
tones  strident  by  the  touch  of  time,  as  she  called 
them  all  by  name,  this  flock  of  the  home.  Not  Glen 
Theron,  necessarily,  oh,  not  that !  but  a  home,  a  life, 
a  world,  not  famous,  only  supremely  womanly  and 
with  Charley,  all  their  own  somewhere,  anywhere. 

"  Dear  Charley,"  recalling  herself  in  reply  to  his 
last  remark,  and  if  Governor  Randall  could  have 
heard  her  it  would  have  enhanced  her  loveliness  so 
much  the  more  in  his  old  heart,  "  do  not  let  us,  you 
and  I,  turn  reformers."  She  threw  her  white  arms 
over  his  shoulder,  clasping  her  hands  as  she  leaned 
upon  him  and  pleaded  with  him.  "  The  world  is  so 
full  of  people  who  want  to  set  it  right  by  some  new 
machinery.  Let  us  cling  to  the  old  ways,  —  the 
home,  the  church,  and  the  old  Bible  just  as  it  reads. 
And,  Charley,  we  will  belong  to  our  fellowmen  too. 
We  will  not  get  apart  from  them.  We  will  wish  to 
do  them  any  good  we  can,  but  we  will  do  it  mostly 
by  being  good  ourselves.  You  will  earn  an  upright 
man's  living.  We  will  pay  our  debts,  and  only  ask 
what  you  are  worth  to  the  world.  We  will  be  so 
old-fashioned,  Charley  dear,  as  to  let  other  people's 
opinions  shape  themselves,  except  so  far  as  we  can 
shape  them  by  a  wholesome  example  of  the  loveliness 
of  faith,  hope,  and  a  kindly  and  refined  life.  Oh, 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  145 

don't,  don't  attempt  to  turn  the  world  over  by  belong- 
ing to  some  new  society.  Let's  love  God  and  each 
other  supremely,  love  our  fellowmen,  love  health, 
home,  our  country,  the  church,  mercy,  and  letters  if 
you  can  command  the  leisure.  Let  us  keep  the  faith 
of  our  fathers  to-day  and  all  days." 

"You  glorious  woman,  you!  "  he  answered  as  he 
gazed  down  into  her  eyes,  and  realized  the  strength 
of  her  character,  as  well  as  the  wealth  of  her  affec- 
tions. "  Do  you  think  I  am  going  to  cast  aside  all 
the  creed  in  which  we  agree,  simply  because  I  pro- 
pose to  lecture  on  Sunday  morning  to  a  company  of 
my  fellow-workmen  ?  " 

"  Not  that,  not  that,  if  that  were  all.  Am  I  not 
a  working-girl  ?  I  only  do  acknowledge  the  utmost 
faith  in  the  religion  and  the  social  laws  of  our  New 
England  as  you  and  I  were  taught  them.  It  is 
the  love  which  our  Saviour  taught  us  which  will,  if 
cherished  in  men's  hearts,  Loth  employer  and  em- 
ployed, settle  all  these  great  and  horrid  problems.  I 
am  sick  at  heart  when  I  see  men  turning  away  from 
the  church  as  they  do.  I  cannot,  cannot  go  with 
Hennie  Sampson  when  she  believes  that  philosophy 
is  to  be  substituted  for  the  religion  of  the  cross.  See 
it  shine  !  "  and  she  pointed  to  the  spire  of  St.  Ann's 
where  the  morning  sun  now  rested  full,  burnishing  it 
against  the  green  hemlocks  beyond. 

"  This  world  would    get    on    so    much    better,  no 


146  NONE  SUCH? 

doubt,  if  the  reformers  were  not  tinkering  it  so  much. 
That  I  believe,"  he  said  thoughtfully.  "  But  you  do 
not  know  what  I  am  going  to  say  to  these  people. 
Come  now,  will  you  accompany  me  and  hear  ?  " 

She  dropped  off  his  shoulder  resolutely  and  re- 
plied :  "  No,  Charley  Horicon  !  "  The  words  were 
the  first  solid  resistance  his  love  had  ever  encoun- 
tered. Let  those  who  can  recall  like  first  estrangement 
suddenly  threatening  a  great  affection  in  their  own 
lives  measure  what  it  meant  to  him,  yes,  and  to  her 
who  spoke  them. 

"  What  ?  And  yet  I  do  know  that  you  have  never 
expressed  a  fear,  when  I  have  asked  you  to  some  poor 
man's  cottage  where  disease  was.  You  were  not 
afraid  of  the  diphtheria  at  the  Bates  cottage.  You 
sat  beside  his  child,  you  held  it  when  it  died." 

"  Yes,  I  could  do  that.  That  is  womanly.  That 
is  Christian.  That  was  nothing.  I  am  ready  now 
for  such  an  errand.  But  an  harangue,  a  Sabbath- 
breaking  discussion  of  wages,  of  employers  and 
bosses,  and  eight  hours,  at  a  time  when  men  ought  to 
be  at  prayer  —  that  is  not  my  duty.  The  Church  of 
St.  Tubal  Cain,  indeed  !  " 

"  You  decline  to  go  ?  "  His  face  was  grave,  his 
firm  set  mouth  and  shadowed  brow  were  eloquent  of 
resolve. 

"  Go  ? "  she  cried.  "  Charles  Horicon,  I  will  go 
around  the  earth  with  you,  meeting  weary  hearts 


THERE    \nLL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  147 

everywhere,  one  by  one,  whispering  into  despairing 
ears  words  of  hope  anywhere,  sharing  with  empty 
hands  our  means  to  help  them  help  themselves,  one 
by  one.  Have  you  not  taught  me  this  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"And  that  it  was  nobler  to  bestow  a  helpful  friend- 
ship on  one  and  another  here  and  there  than  to  throw 
millions  in  a  proud,  unfeeling  lump  somewhere  —  a 
rich  man's  endowment  heaped  up  like  a  bushel  of 
meal  dumped  on  the  ground  where  rats  could  come 
to  eat  and  run  away.  That  was  your  own  funny 
simile,  and  I  had  to  think  of  it  long  before  I  under- 
stood it." 

"  Yes,  I  said  that,  dear  heart,"  and  he  clasped  his 
hands  behind  him,  pacing  up  and  down,  studying  the 
summer  grass  that  he  pressed  with  his  shoe.  "  I  told 
you  that  very  few  rich  men  ever  stopped  to  know 
their  fellows;  that  they  had  no  patience  with  the 
human  unit,  no  time  to  know  men's  need,  one  by 
one.  Come,  hear  me  at  the  Lodge  hall." 

"  I  tell  you  no,  Mister  —  Charley.  The  Lodges  are 
herds  and  the  grand  chiefs  are  the  drivers."  A  be- 
witching twinkle  of  her  eyes  —  certainly  at  a  less 
serious  time  it  would  have  been  bewitching  —  re- 
minded him  again  that  she  quoted  him.  "You  said 
the  mechanic  was  forbidden  to  think  his  own  thoughts 
or  live  his  own  life  in  those  great  associations-  You 
said  the  workingman  was  as  much  a  slave  of  hi**  asso- 


148  NONE  SUCH? 

elation  as  the  employer  of  his  millions,  and  neither 
could  be  himself." 

"  Yes,  I  said  that." 

"  You  said,  and  it  is  the  truest  thing  of  all,  that  if 
you  had  millions  you  would  travel  up  and  down  the 
world,  finding  deserving  men  whom  you  would  help 
to  live  their  own  lives,  as  the  adorable  Saviour 
receives  men  in  secret,  one  by  one,  and  listens  to 
their  cry.  Charley  Horicon,  I  believe  in  such  ser- 
vice. There  is  no  anarchy  in  the  time  when  the 
strong  bear  one  another's  burden  in  that  way."  She 
linked  her  arm  through  his  to  bend  him  towards  the 
elm  walk  leading  to  St.  Ann's,  where  her  mother  was 
seen  awaiting  them. 

Why  was  not  this  young  fellow  content  to  yield? 
To  be  sure,  there  was  his  promise  to  Althorp.  It 
caught  him.  Yet,  even  without  the  pledge  of  his 
honor,  he  would  have  gone  to  Harmony  Hall.  Pique 
may  be  a  mere  burr  under  the  saddle,  but  it  has 
driven  many  a  high  spirit  wild.  He  might  have  con- 
fessed his  promise  to  the  gang  in  the  hemlocks,  but 
that  would  have  distressed  her.  She  ought,  he  rea- 
soned, to  allow  him  to  be  the  judge  of  what  was  best. 
Every  man  experiences  a  dawn  of  his  lordship  and 
supposed  right  to  be  obeyed  along  about  the  time 
when  the  wedding-day  is  in  sight.  It  is  a  part  of  the 
happiness,  just  to  try  a  pull  on  the  left  rein,  with  a 
caress  of  the  whip;  and  he  almost  invariably  finds 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  149 

that  the  filly  throws  her  head  wildly  and  breaks 
badly. 

"  No,  Dorothea  Mayfield,"  he  said  in  his  choicest 
bad  tones,  which  were  not  at  all  unmusical,  though  as 
deep  as  he  could  make  them.  "I  must  go.  You  will 
not  go  with  me  ?  You  deny  me  this  mere  trifle  ?  " 

"It— it  is  no  trifle."  She  was  almost  sobbing, 
though  she  managed  to  call  on  her  resentment  too. 
"It  is  a  principle.  You  are  beginning  a  questionable 
career." 

"  I  am  not." 

"  You  —  you  —  are  !  " 

"  A  career  ?  One  would  think,  Miss  Mayfield,  I 
was  expecting  to  be  run  for  Congress  by  these  men." 

"  No  doubt,  Mr.  Horicon,  your  abilities  will  at  once 
put  you  in  their  lead  for  everything.  Oh,  I  can  — 
I  must  join  mamma  —  Indeed,  I  am  not  ready  for 
church.  My  gloves." 

Such  trifles  as  her  gloves  have  wrought  great 
changes  in  this  world.  The  gloves,  moreover,  helped 
her  out  in  her  decision,  for  her  heart  was  fast  failing 
her.  Indeed,  in  her  flight  across  the  little  lawn  and 
up  to  her  room,  as  she  passed  like  a  Avhite  flash,  she 
half  intended  to  yield  to  him,  perhaps,  if  he  did  not 
yield  to  her,  perhaps.  But  when  she  reappeared  he 
was  gone. 

As  for  Mr.  Horicon,  as  he  walked  away,  quite 
probably  he  voted  himself  a  fool  in  giving  further 


150  NONESUCH? 

heed  to  his  pique.  He  could  but  reason  that  the 
cause  of  their  lovers'  quarrel  was  not  so  very  grave. 
To  give  proper  weight  to  the  causes  of  such  wars  is, 
however,  as  difficult  as  to  justly  estimate  the  causes  of 
spats  between  great  nations,  involving  all  Europe  for 
two-thirds  of  its  history.  It  was  a  real  wound  to  him ; 
yet  no  doubt  he  would  have  forgotten  and  forgiven 
quite  before  he  reached  Harmony  Hall,  except  that 
he  really  had  secretly  prided  himself  on  his  speech,  and 
in  speech-making  the  sweet  of  sweets  is  the  applause 
of  the  one  who  loves  you  best,  and  who  will  whisper 
afterwards  in  your  hot  ears,  "  Splendid !  "  And, 
moreover,  it  was  politic  in  arranging  for  a  friendly 
witness,  that  he  might  afterwards  subpoena  in  some 
social  court  if  he  were  impeached  ;  for  Charles  Hori- 
con  did  not  intend  to  say  things  that  would  be  pop- 
ular with  the  mass  of  his  hearers.  In  facing  an 
unsympathizing  audience,  not  to  say  a  hostile  and  a 
stormy,  with  the  loud-mouthed  cry  of  opposition,  the 
fond  countenance  of  one  whom  you  love  and  who 
approves  is  like  the  harbor  light  to  a  sailor  in  a  gale. 
One  steers  by  the  light.  There  is  no  light  in  this 
world  like  the  light  in  the  face  of  the  one  woman  of 
all  the  world  to  you. 

At  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Lock  Streets  Mr. 
Horicon  encountered  a  carriage.  The  liveried  coach- 
man pulled  up  the  bays  just  in  season,  and  recognized 
the  young  gentleman  with  the  smile  that  is  permitted 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.          151 

among  the  ultra-conventionalisms  that  forbid  a  coach- 
man to  bow. 

"  Good-morning,  Jo,"  said  Mr.  Horicon,  glancing 
up  to  the  driver.  The  sound  of  Horicon's  voice  must 
have  attracted  Miss  Hennie  Sampson's  attention. 
She  showed  her  face  at  the  carriage  window,  and 
promptly  touched  the  bell  that  halted  her  turnout 
just  there  in  the  street.  There  was  certainly  no  con- 
nivance about  this  meeting.  There  was  nothing  else 
for  Horicon  to  do  but  pick  his  way  through  the  dust 
and  present  himself  at  her  carriage  window.  Had 
Dorothea  Mayfield  herself  witnessed  it  all,  she  could 
not  have  taken  any  exceptions  thus  far.  Had  Judge 
Hartley  and  Governor  Randall  seen  this  meeting,  they 
could  not  have  made  out  of  it  anything  dishonorable 
in  either  the  lady's  or  the  gentleman's  actions.  But 
though  the  Judge  and  the  Governor  were  also  mak- 
ing their  way  slowly  along  the  streets  to  Harmony 
Hall,  where  the  wily  lawyer  had  arranged  a  secret 
place  for  the  Governor  "  to  hear  with  his  own  ears," 
yet  they  were  not  in  sight  when  Horicon  accidentally 
met  Miss  Sampson's  carriage. 

."On  your  rounds  among  your  reading-rooms,  I 
suppose,  Miss  Sampson,"  Horicon  lifted  his  hat  and 
accosted  the  lady. 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Horicon,"  she  answered,  giving  him  her 
hand  through  the  door  which  she  opened.  "  But  are 
you  not  out  of  place  so  far  from  St.  Ann's  ?  " 


152  NONE  SUCH? 

There  was  nothing  for  it  but  briefly  to  explain  the 
situation,  which  he  did  to  a  hearer  whose  features 
perceptibly  lightened  with  an  approving  glow  as  he 
talked. 

"  May  I  go  and  listen  to  you  ?  "  she  asked,  as  he 
finished.  "  May  I  not,  indeed,  take  you  to  Harmony 
Hall  ?  "  she  urged  innocently,  at  the  same  time  mak- 
ing place  for  him  beside  her  on  the  satin  cushion. 

He  looked  at  her  searchingly.  He  decided  that 
she  was  not  blushing.  It  was  the  tender  hues  re- 
flected from  the  red  upholstery  that  so  became  this 
beautiful  woman.  Her  interest  was  not  in  him,  he 
was  sure,  but  in  his  errand,  for  she  surely  approved 
his  errand.  Her  smile  was  always  cold.  It  was 
only  intellectually  animated  now.  Yet  there  was 
a  certain  contrast  fresh  in  his  mind.  That  there 
should  be  this  consciousness  of  contrast  offended  his 
own  conscience.  At  that  moment  he  would  have 
given  all  the  smiles  of  this  rich,  handsome  philoso- 
pher's after  life  for  one  gracious  sunlit  beam  of  that 
other  beautiful  woman's  face  now  lowered  in  tears  no 
doubt  over  her  prayer-book  in  distant  St.  Ann's. 

"  I  am  not  taking  you  from  other  duties  ? "  he 
asked  by  way  of  regaining  his  best  judgment. 

"Not  at  all,"  she  responded  graciously,  as  she 
drew  her  dainty  skirts  about  her,  and  made  a  place 
for  him  in  a  way  that  left  him  no  choice  but  to 
accept  the  seat. 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  153 

"I  have  known  of  your  remarkable  successes  in 
our  great  man's  favor,"  she  said,  as  they  rolled  along 
towards  Harmony  Hall.  There  was  a  decidedly  pat- 
ronizing air,  not  to  say  more  nearly  contempt,  in  her 
mention  of  the  unlettered  though  mighty  millionaire. 
"  I  have  long  wished  we  might  be  better  friends. 
Papa  says  you  have  a  great  career  before  you,  if  you 
devote  yourself  to  the  corporations,  and  I  hear  Mar- 
cellus  speak  of  you  cordially." 

"  I  thank  you,"  he  said.  "  I  have  gone  diligently 
about  my  business,  and  little  into  society,  though 
young  Mr.  Hartley  has  been  very  kind  in  inviting 
me  out.  I  fear  he  has  found  me  a  dull  acquaintance." 

"  Oh,  Marcellus  is — is  harmless,"  she  added,  and 
then  seemed  to  recollect  that  however  it  might  be 
with  Mr.  Horicon  and  Mr.  Marcellus  Hartley,  Miss 
Mayfield,  her  schoolmate  and  friend,  as  such  friend- 
ships go,  must  have  kept  this  young  gentleman  fully 
informed  in  girlish  gossip  about  her  own  and  Mar- 
cellus Hartley's  expectations  of  an  early  marriage. 
However,  she  had  spoken  it,  and  she  meant  always  to 
speak  it,  the  conscious  superiority  she  felt  regarding 
young  Hartley.  "  Marcellus  is  all  business,  you 
know,"  she  went  on.  "  He  has  no  time  for  art,  for 
books,  for  the  newest  thought  of  the  world.  He  is  a 
splendid  business  man,  so  papa  thinks.  He  will 
have  great  cares  on  his  shoulders,  no  doubt." 

But  still  she  felt  conscious  she  had  not  bettered 


154  NONE  SUCH? 

matters  much,  and  except  that  she  had  never  expe- 
rienced the  sensation,  would  have  begun  to  feel  her- 
self ill  at  ease.  As  they  talked  on,  however,  this  girl 
of  high  ambitions  soon  began  to  confess  herself  un- 
comfortable and  no  mistake.  This  brilliant,  strong 
man  at  her  side,  expressing  his  ideas  in  rich,  manly 
tones,  which  contrasted  strikingly  with  the  thin  voice 
of  the  private  secretary ;  the  vigor  and  force  of  Hori- 
con's  convictions,  whereas  her  affianced  never  had 
convictions  that  he  maintained  against  hers ;  the 
charm  of  Horicon's  handsome  and  manly  person  sit- 
ting there  and  taking  room,  where  the  spare,  nervous, 
and  half-invalid  quill-driver  had  so  often  sat  and  left 
her  silks  all  the  space  they  needed  and  more,  —  these 
things  were  having  their  effect  upon  the  brilliant 
woman.  She  found  herself  deferring  to  the  man, 
half  agreeing,  and  always  wishing  to  please  and  win 
his  approval.  She  wondered  why  she  had  not  discov- 
ered him  before.  She  regretted  her  engagement  with 
Marcellus  in  a  purely  intellectual  decision  that  she 
reserved  for  future  consideration.  Having  no  heart, 
this  cost  her  no  pain.  Having  brains,  the  possible 
necessity  for  this  caused  her  mental  chagrin.  Being 
an  only  child  and  prospectively  rich,  it  seemed  to  her 
easy,  however,  to  adjust  things,  if  she  should  on  more 
mature  reflection  decide  that  it  was  best.  It  did  not 
at  first  enter  her  mind  that  Mr.  Horicon  himself  might 
be  secretly  questioning  about  her.  That  was  the 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  155 

charm  of  the  girl.  She  was  never  self-conscious. 
She  was  selfish  in  the  highest  form  of  the  fault ;  that 
is,  she  never  thought  of  herself.  She  knew  she  was 
superb,  and  that  ended  it.  As  for  others,  she  be- 
lieved they  acknowledged  it,  and  that  ended  it. 
Had  she  seen  the  struggle  of  pique  that  was  going 
on  in  this  young  man's  mind,  had  she  realized  how 
he  was  weighing  her  opinions,  so  brilliantly  expressed 
—  it  was  when  she  suddenly  detected  all  this  in  him 
that  she  became  ill  at  ease. 

"  Our  rich  man,"  she  had  just  remarked,  "  should 
put  a  copy  of  Browning  in  every  young  working- 
girl's  hands,  and  should  print  by  the  million  such 
books  for  men  as  Matthew  Arnold's  '  Literature  and 
Dogma.'  Governor  Randall's  millions  should  cover 
the  land  with  Henry  George's  '  Progress  and  Poverty.' 
Faith  is  dead.  Science  is  her  successor.  Each  man 
should  be  educated  to  that  degree  of  power  that  no 
one  man  could  be  superior  and  gather  his  millions." 

Horicon  regarded  her,  this  young  girl  graduate  of 
Harvard  Annex,  talking  political  economies  from  a 
full  heart,  or  head  rather,  on  her  way  to  the  Church 
of  St.  Tubal  Cain.  For  all  that  she  was  indeed  su- 
perb. Her  dress  was  faultless.  She  was  clad  in  a 
light  blue  silk  with  a  broad  brimmed  white  hat 
trimmed  with  blue  forget-me-nots,  while  she  toyed 
with  a  white  parasol  which  fell  partly  open  be- 
neath her  shapely  hand  and  made  a  pretty  show  of 


156  NONE  SUCH? 

white  lace  trimming.  Her  philosophy  had  never 
made  her  indifferent  to  dress.  Her  blue  eyes,  large 
and  speaking;  her  full  brow  revealed  by  the  old 
Grecian  parting  of  her  hair,  which  showed  its  wavy 
blond  plaits  to  perfection ;  her  Grecian  nose  remind- 
ing one  of  the  Venus  of  Milo ;  her  mobile,  sensitive 
mouth,  with  its  gleam  of  white  pearls  when  she 
smiled;  her  magnificent  complexion,  this  practiced 
equestrienne  and  devotee  of  athletics,  —  really,  it 
was  well  for  the  loyal  and  piqued  Horicon  that  the 
carriage  was  now  arrived  at  the  door  of  Harmony 
Hall. 

Miss  Sampson  and  Mr.  Horicon  ran  the  gantlet 
of  rough  fellows  who  fringed  the  narrow  doorway, 
and  were  met  by  Delegate  Althorp  to  be  conducted 
to  the  rostrum. 

"  If  'twas  anybody  but  her,"  muttered  a  working- 
man  at  the  door,  pulling  a  hand  from  his  pocket  to 
point  to  the  coupe  and  horses,  "  I'd  like  t'  smash  in 
the  winders.  Git  up  there,  driver," at  the  same  time 
emptying  his  mouth  with  a  shot  at  the  glistening 
wheels.  "  Even  her  carriage  mustn't  block  the  way 
for  the  assembling  of  the  sovereign  people." 

"  She  ! "  came  as  an  echoing  hiss  from  a  fellow- 
workman.  "Who's  she,  after  all?  We  know  'er. 
T'  be  sure,  she  moves  about  among  us  folks.  But 
it's  only  a  fad  o'  her'n.  It's  the  fashion,  my  boy. 
She's  no  heart." 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  157 

"  But  she's  a  mighty  fine-look  in'  girl,  though,"  said 
another,  rapping  his  pipe  empty  and  filling  it  afresh 
for  his  more  comfortable  hearing  up-stairs. 

A  room  that  would  accommodate  a  thousand,  but 
that  now  held  surely  twelve  hundred,  not  counting 
Judge  Hartley  and  Governor  Randall,  who  would  soon 
be  here,  entering  through  a  side  door  where  they  were 
to  be  concealed  in  a  convenient  office ;  a  room  where 
some  young  men  smoked,  but  most  older  men  had 
not  yet  quite  come  to  that,  for  neatly  dressed  women 
and  a  few  children  were  there.  Were  not  the  women 
partners  in  this  business?  The  wives  of  the  poor 
have  more  influence  in  the  destinies  and  management 
of  the  home  than  the  wives  of  the  rich.  The  chil- 
dren of  the  poor  know  all  and  suffer  all ;  but,  thank 
God,  there  at  least  are  children  or  the  race  would 
perish.  These  boys  are  the  future  Governor  Ran- 
dalls ;  but  they  hate  him  now  and  jeer  and  cat-call 
his  name.  The  noise  of  many  voices,  not  loud  but 
constant,  is  in  lieu  of  organ  and  hymn  in  this  Church 
of  St.  Tubal  Cain.  Who  says  this  is  better  music f 
for  the  soul  than  hymns  of  praise  ?  Many  say  it 
nowadays. 

The  mass  gradually  comes  to  order ;  for  these  are 
all  thinkers,  and  serious  business  is  on  hand,  —  not 
eternities,  but  eight  hours  of  time,  vastly  more  im- 
portant, since  most  of  these  men  have  come  to  believe 
that  time  is  all  there  is  for  man,  in  the  creed  of  St. 


158  NONE  SUCH? 

Tubal  Cain.  Doubtless  this  is  wiser  than  the  old 
idea,  though  Dorothea  Mayfields,  dear  souls,  think  it 
shocking. 

The  master  reads  no  ancient  musty  book,  that 
"  Book  for  all  the  weary  and  heavy  laden,"  telling  of 
infinite  love  and  infinite  justice.  No  ;  he  reads  a  call 
to  arms  written  by  another  St.  Peter,  the  inspired 
Althorp.  The  advantage  is,  for  Sunday  business, 
that  St.  Peter  Althorp  is  up  to  date.  So  are  many 
other  saints  whose  epistles  are  consulted.  The  wrath, 
the  fiery  denunciation  of  riches  and  power  in  other 
people's  hands,  the  merciless  mention  of  millionaires' 
names,  are  so  much  more  wholesome  for  the  soul,  a 
real  food  for  moral  growth  beyond  anything  that 
"  smooth-tongued  clergymen  "  are  wont  to  elsewhere 
speak  in  the  ears  of  penitent  men  and  gentle  women 
and  little  children.  It  might  not  seem  so  to  you, 
reverent,  womanly  Dorothea  Mayfield.  The  sins  that 
are  mentioned  here  are  other  men's  sins.  The  repent- 
ance that  is  demanded  is  other  men's  repentance. 
All  the  bad  hearts  that  need  conversion  are  outside 
Harmony  Hall  —  the  "  scabs  "  who  will  not  join  our 
particular  parish  of  Church  of  St.  Tubal  Cain ;  the 
men  who  belong  to  the  rival  order  of  the  Knights  of 
the  New  Confederation,  "miserable  come-outers,"  who 
furnish,  with  rich  employers,  the  only  hook  by  which 
a  belief  in  hell  yet  hangs.  These  are  the  sinners. 
Their  conversion  is  sought  by  no  canting  phrases  and 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  159 

maudlin  tears.  No,  they  are  to  be  converted  by  force, 
which  is  so  much  better  than  the  way  at  St.  Ann's. 
Prayers  ?  We  have  done  with  them  here.  If  there 
be  a  God,  he  is  asleep.  God  is  mentioned,  it  must 
be  confessed,  and  frequently.  But  the  reference  is 
not  flattering  to  divinity. 

"  Mr.  Charles  Horicon,  ladies  and  gentlemen." 
The  introduction  was  very  abrupt.  His  greeting  was 
this  much  kindly,  that  it  was  a  silent  stare.  What 
has  such  as  he  to  say  here? 

This  among  other  things. 

"  Wealth,  young  men,  is  one  of  the  prizes  of  life. 
If  you  want  the  prize,  you  must  pay  the  price.  You 
and  I  must,  for  we  do  not  inherit  it.  I  am  not  de- 
cided that  I  will  pay  for  it  the  price  of  leisure  for 
reading,  for  flowers,  for  friends,  for  sunshine.  The 
price  is  your  health,  your  contentment,  often  your 
home  loves.  To  be  very  rich  one  must  be  a  chained 
slave." 

He  spoke  the  best  thought  of  his  inmost  soul's 
reflections.  His  voice  was  melody.  His  presence 
was  gracious.  He  was  eloquent  because  right  and 
truthful.  He  cursed  no  one,  and  spoke  no  words  of 
envy  nor  war.  The  audience  were  disappointed,  but 
enchained. 

"  Young  men  have  done  most  of  the  great  things 
in  human  history.  Philip  and  Alexander  were  both 
young  men  when  they  filled  the  world  with  their 


160  NONE  SUCH? 

fame.  Caesar  was  but  seventeen  when  lie  began  to 
attract  the  attention  of  Rome,  and  at  thirty-seven 
was  elected  Pontifex  Maximus.  Demosthenes  and 
Cicero  won  fame  as  boys  among  their  associates. 
Napoleon,  victor  in  Italy  at  twenty-six  ;  Grant,  com- 
mander of  the  Union  Army  at  forty-three ;  yes,  and 
Sherman,  famous  at  forty-one  ;  and  Sheridan  [ap- 
plause] at  about  thirty-one  ;  and  Kilpatrick,  the 
Brooklyn  clothier's  clerk  [applause],  who  swung  into 
the  saddle,  a  great  leader,  at  twenty-seven, — all  teach 
the  same  lesson  of  hope  to  you  boys  and  youths 
before  me." 

Horicon  spoke  of  Edison's  youthful  achievements, 
which  he  had  not  equaled  by  any  fruit  of  his  brain 
since  he  was  a  very  young  man.  He  spoke  of  Cor- 
nelius Vanderbilt's  youth,  when  he  dropped  the 
ferry-boat  oars  and  conceived  his  railroad  success; 
of  the  kings  of  finance,  successful  within  the  limits 
of  youthful  manhood,  —  the  Rockefellers,  the  Jay 
Goulds,  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  and  ex-Governor  Ran- 
dall. The  audience  did  not  cheer,  but  they  listened. 
"  For,"  he  went  on,  "  whatever  your  opinion  of  the 
men,  their  careers  show  you  boys  what  you  may  hope 
for  among  the  prizes  of  life  if  you  have  it  in  you 
—  and  are  willing  to  pay  the  awful  price." 

Horicon  turned  to  more  sacred  names.  "  Moses 
was  not  over  forty-one  years  of  age,  David  but  six- 
teen, Paul  probably  not  over  thirty-five,  when  our 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  161 

common  Father  called  and  they  obeyed  for  great  ser- 
vice. And  the  Lord  and  Saviour  of  us  all  had  no 
gray  among  his  brown  locks  when  the  wicked  crowned 
him,  King  of  suffering  and  of  mercy,  with  the  cruel 
thorns." 

The  audience  still  listened.  The  pathos  of  the 
speaker  clothed  his  voice  with  a  charm  that  moved 
the  women  to  old  memories  of  worshipful  hours  in 
those  "  defunct  churches  "  under  English  hedgerows 
and  amid  the  valleys  of  rural  New  England. 

"  Man  is  born  of  woman  with  great  inequality  of 
powers.  God  sees  that  for  the  best.  We  can  never 
expect  nature  to  do  differently.  One  woman's  son  is 
Daniel  Webster.  Another  woman's  son,  or  another 
son  of  the  same  woman,  is  a  feeble  creature.  The 
Daniel  Websters  must  serve  from  love.  The  rich 
man  must  divide,  not  by  law,  but  by  love.  They 
themselves,  who  have  riches,  must  compel  themselves 
to  divide.  We  cannot  compel  them.  That  is  the 
solution  of  all.  Governor  Randall  has  a  kind  heart 
[hisses].  He  is  far  from  a  happy  man  [cries  of 
'  Good  enough  for  him ! '].  It  is  his  genius  to  ac- 
cumulate. He  is  not  dead  yet.  He  will  think  out 
some  great  and  good  plan  "  — 

Then  they  rose  on  him  and  cried  at  him :  "  You 
know  what,  eh  ?  " 

"  Tell  us." 

"Are  you  to  be  his  heir?  " 


162  NONE  SUCH? 

Horicon  folded  his  arms  and  waited  for  silence. 
When  it  was  restored,  he  resumed :  "  I  am  done 
probably,  with  Governor  Randall." 

Pie  should  have  seen  Miss  Hennie  Sampson's  look 
of  wonder  as  these  words  fell  on  her  ears. 

"  I  am  a  workingman  like  you.  I  shall  leave  you 
to  your  long  and  wretched  strike,  for  I  know  Peter 
Althorp  has  sold  you  out." 

The  answering  uproar  was  a  single  burst  of  wrath, 
for  the  agitator  had  fed  them  on  class  hatred  till  they 
had  made  him  their  idol.  After  the  one  wild,  yelling 
protest,  when  many  were  on  their  feet,  and  some  had 
sprung  with  clenched  hands  into  the  aisles,  there  was 
a  sudden  portentous  silence.  The  silence  was  caused 
by  Althorp  himself,  who  had  taken  one  stride,  with 
lifted  hand,  and  stood,  white  with  suppressed  rage, 
at  Horicon's  side. 

"  Take  that  back  !  "  demanded  Althorp. 

"  I  reiterate  it,"  was  the  orator's  calm  reply. 

Althorp  quailed ;  for  there  was  good  in  him,  and  it 
witnessed  to  the  truth.  He  was  alarmed,  too,  for 
he  wondered  if  Judge  Hartley  had  bungled  his  job 
somewhere.  In  the  ante-room  the  Judge  lost  color 
also,  for  the  listening  Governor  plucked  him  by  the 
sleeve  and  seemed  about  to  ask  an  explanation. 

"I  not  only  charge  you,"  resumed  Horicon,  mag- 
nificent in  his  calm  and  awful  impeachment,  "with 
promoting  labor  troubles  for  hire,  I  charge  that  you 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  163 

have  lost  your  natural  sweetness  of  temper,  and  have 
grown  a  sour-hearted,  loveless  teacher  of  these  peo- 
ple. You  are  most  unhappy.  Why  do  you  not  take 
up  some  honest  work,  Althorp,  to  gain  the  advance- 
ment in  life  which  your  talents  and  education  war- 
rant? Set  these  working  people  the  example  of  a 
good  home  with  a  wife  and  happy  children,  and  a 
prosperous  industry  swelling  your  bank  account 
yearly.  Preach  by  being  yourself  a  happy  man.  It 
is  the  best  way  of  preaching.  Build  your  own  shop, 
manufacture  your  own  patents.  You  have  several. 
Just  where  you  stand  to-day,  in  possibilities,  stood 
the  Governor  Randalls  of  forty  years  ago.  Men  prate 
that  times  have  changed.  Yes,  because  so  few  men 
nowadays  dare  to  think  out  and  live  their  own  lives. 
Every  man  is  forced  to  belong  to  some  iron-bound 
association.  As  for  me,  I  will  take  no  vows  but  to 
my  country  and  my  church.  The  land  is  yet  free. 
The  church  of  the  New  Testament,  if  we  could  only 
return  to  it  as  it  was,  a  simple  company  of  followers 
of  Jesus,  moving  about  where  he  led, — that  would 
be  free.  Times  have  changed,  say  you?  The  sun- 
light, the  air,  the  earth,  the  forces  of  nature,  are  the 
same.  God  himself  breaks  the  monopolies  by  giving 
us  electricity  when  steam  is  cornered,  aluminum  when 
iron  is  cornered,  great  Texas  and  the  new  Canada  when 
land  is  cornered.  It  is  a  beautiful  world  and  a  grand 
age,  if  the  new  reformers  will  let  us  alone.  These 


164  NONE  SUCH? 

quack  doctors  of  the  world,  who  are  dosing  the  age 
with  the  new  truth  —  out  on  them  !  There  is  one  old 
truth,  the  Bible  you  reject ;  one  great  Physician,  the 
Christ  in  whom  you  were  most  of  you  christened. 
He  loved  this  world.  He  called  us  to  admire  the  lilies 
which  he  had  created.  I  want  to  live  here  long. 
To  truly  and  wisely  love  this  life  is  to  make  sure  of 
the  next." 

"  By  George !  "  exclaimed  Governor  Randall  with- 
in his  room  of  concealment.  "'  I  like  that,  Hartley." 
An  instant  more  and  the  aged  Governor  had  advanced 
from  his  chair  and  opened  wide  the  connecting  door 
upon  the  stage.  He  had  stood  there  at  Horicon's 
back,  unseen  by  him,  but  fully  revealed  to  the  as- 
sembly the  most  of  the  time  of  this  last  eloquent 
burst  of  Horicon's  address.  No  doubt  it  was  the 
sight  of  "  the  old  man "  that  had  to  some  degree 
restrained  the  wonder-struck  audience,  as  it  surely 
must  have  restrained  the  enraged  Althorp. 

"  If  I  live,"  kindling  for  one  last  word  Horicon 
resumed,  "  I  will  keep  to  this  old  creed.  I  will  wish 
to  do  good  to  many  men.  I  will  do  good  to  many 
men.  I  will  do  willful  injury  to  no  man.  I  will  use 
such  means  as  I  have  with  my  own  hand,  helping  one 
by  one  other  men  to  live  their  own  lives.  I  will  do 
this  myself,  not  by  machinery.  If  I  were  very  rich, 
as  I  never  expect  to  be,  I  would  still  do  this  — by  my 
own  hand,  I  say,  not  by  aldermen,  not  by  managers, 
nor  by  trustees,  nor  by  executors." 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  165 

"  By  George,  Horicon,  you  shall  have  a  chance  to 
try ! "  The  old  Governor  towered  above  them  all. 
He  had  the  astonished  Horicon  in  an  instant  by  both 
hands,  which  he  had  seized,  while  in  his  handsome 
white-fringed  face  there  shone  a  light  brighter  than 
the  sunlight  of  June. 


166  NONE  SUCH? 


CHAPTER   VII. 

"  I  EEALLY  must  be  allowed  to  add  my  congratula- 
tions upon  this  fine  address,"  said  Miss  Sampson, 
advancing  at  once  to  the  side  of  Mr.  Horicon.  She 
evidently  did  not  understand  the  import  of  Governor 
Randall's  remark.  To  her  his  words,  coupled  with 
his  enthusiastic  manner,  were  the  mere  outburst  of  an 
old  man's  admiration,  and  perhaps  the  expression  of 
his  strong  approval  of  a  speech  which  was  calculated 
to  avert  a  troublesome  strike. 

But  Horicon  did  not  turn  to  her.  In  fact,  he  could 
not,  for  the  Governor  held  him  with  unrelaxed  grasp. 
The  two  men  stood  gazing  fixedly  into  each  other's 
faces.  The  flush  of  his  speech  was  still  upon  Hori- 
con. But  a  greater  excitement  was  fast  sweeping 
into  his  mind  —  the  swift  change  of  destiny.  It  was 
only  eighteen  hours  ago  that  he  felt  himself  a  dis- 
charged employe*  with  only  all  the  world  before  him 
and  his  Dorothea  where  to  choose,  and  with  this  rich 
old  man  an  envenomed  rival  and  enemy.  Now  he 
was  the  idol  of  that  same  old  man ;  for  nothing  less 
than  an  idolizing  enthusiasm  beamed  upon  him  from 
Randall's  face,  and  thrilled  through  his  nervous  grasp 
of  the  hands.  Horicon  did  not  take  into  his  new 
problem  the  dangerous,  sinister  look  of  the  man 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  167 

Althorp,  who  was  still  standing  there,  pinching  his 
feeble  black  mustache  very  hard.  Nor  did  he  notice 
the  impassive  stare  of  the  astounded  Judge,  whose 
square  lower  jaw  was  adrop,  and  rubbing  his  chin,  and 
who  almost  without  thinking  what  he  did,  one  would 
have  said,  drew  near  the  little  Grand  Master.  Evi- 
dently one  had  better  know  what  sort  of  a  speech  a 
man  will  make,  as  well  as  the  place,  next  time  one 
plots  to  use  a  man. 

"  What  say  you,  my  boy  ?  "  asked  the  Governor  of 
his  gardener.  "  I  was  right,  Hartley,  at  first.  The 
fellow's  got  the  gold  in  him.  He's  my  man.  By 
George !  he  made  me  think  of  my  Rob  when  he  used 
to  declaim  at  the  high  school.  He's  Rob  over  again, 
men,"  as  if  he  thought  some  of  the  older  workmen 
might  remember  his  only  boy.  "  Horicon,  you're 
myself  over  again,  and  bettered.  You  shall  do  it, 
you  shall  do  it!  Hartley,"  but  the  Governor  did  not 
turn  his  head  to  say  it,  "  I  did  not  "  —  then  his  natu- 
ral caution  caught  him,  and  the  rest  of  the  sentence 
—  "destroy  the  will  "  —  was  not  spoken  in  all  these 
curious  ears. 

Meanwhile  Horicon  had  not  managed  to  open  his 
lips,  but  he  had  managed  to  let  his  eyes  meet  those 
marvelous  eyes  of  the  superb  woman  who  stood 
reaching  out  in  vain  her  pretty  gloved  hands  to  him. 
"  You  see  I  am  helpless,  Miss  Sampson,"  he  finally 
got  tongue  to  say. 


168  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Yes,  I've  got  him,"  reiterated  the  Governor ;  "  but 
you  may  have  one  hand,  Miss  Sampson.  Glad  to  see 
you  here,  Miss,"  and  in  a  perfectly  unsuspecting  way 
he  gave  his  own  left  hand  to  the  young  lady  while 
he  yielded  Horicon's.  What  wisdom  has  an  old 
financier  to  detect  a  handsome  woman's  coquetry? 

"Thank  you,  Governor  Randall,"  said  Miss  Samp- 
son, rustling  her  silks,  and  all  genuine  excitement. 
"  It  is  a  great  privilege  to  have  heard  good  oratory, 
though  one  might  not  agree  with  all  the  sentiments 
of  the  speaker."  The  roguish  smile  and  pretty  toss 
of  her  bright  head  with  the  last  sentence  should  not 
have  deceived  an  observer.  She  would  have  sur- 
rendered all  her  opinions  that  very  moment  to  this 
young  man's  wish. 

"  Jupiter !  we're  saved ! "  whispered  Judge  Hartley 
to  Althorp.  For  the  Judge  had  seen  what  Governor 
Randall,  the  old  blunderer,  did  not  see,  the  girl's 
decided  surrender. 

"  What  ?  Miss  Sampson  ?  "  demanded  the  great 
manager  of  dollars.  "  You  hear  anything  to  object  to 
in  all  this  ?  Heavens  !  It's  wisdom  by  the  chunk  the 
boy's  been  getting  off  to  'em.  I  say,  Charley, —  I'm 
going  to  call  you  Charley,  being  it's  Sunday  and 
we  ain't  in  business  hours,  —  I  say,  will  you  do 
it?" 

"  Do  what,  Governor  Randall  ?  "  Horicon  at  length 
responded.  "  Your  congratulations  are  exceedingly 


TUEEE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  169 

welcome,  my  dear  sir.  I  had  no  idea  you  were  with- 
in three  miles  of  this  place." 

"This  is  no  time  to  talk,  my  son,"  answered  the 
financier,  who  had  now  almost  in  a  moment  resumed 
that  perfect  self-possession  which  was  one  of  the 
secrets  of  his  success.  Then,  too,  the  assembly  had 
broken  up.  Others  were  upon  the  platform.  Eager 
and  kindly  hands  were  reaching  up  to  grasp  the 
young  orator's,  and  women  pressed  forward  to  call 
God  to  bless  him.  The  throng  about  the  rostrum 
were  of  one  sentiment.  But  the  audience  had  not 
been  unified,  by  any  means ;  and  noisy,  yes,  here  and 
there  even  fierce,  discussions  were  echoing  from  little 
knots.  The  confusion  gave  the  old  Governor  a  good 
chance  to  accost  individuals  with  "  How  are  ye, 
John  ?  "  "  Hullo,  Tim,"  and  "  Well,  well,  Jack.  Hain't 
seen  ye  for  a  year,"  as  he  yielded  his  hand  right  and 
left  to  his  working  people,  more  than  one  of  whom, 
now  with  graying  locks  and  stiffened  arms,  had  been 
in  his  employ  for  long  years.  The  men  whom  he 
accosted  so  cordially  by  name  had  been  his  associates 
at  the  lumber  yards  when  he  and  they  began  life's 
battle  together,  he  soon  becoming  their  youthful 
employer,  though  constantly  working  with  them, 
utilizing  that  "  nest-egg,"  his  little  capital  of  long 
ago. 

"Boys  !  "  the  Governor  cried  out  in  unfeigned  de- 
light, as  he  danced  about  amid  their  greetings.  "  I 


170  NONE  SUCH? 

say,  boys,  I  feel  almost  like  making  a  speech  myself. 
Why  don't  I  see  more  of  you  ?  Confound  it !  I  hain't 
no  time.  I'm  drove  to  death,  boys,  but  I'm  one  of 
you  just  the  same  as  ever.  I  have  old  John  Clarkson 
up  to  the  house." 

"  Hurrah,  for  John  Clarkson  !  "  some  one  shouted. 

"  Hurrah  for  Ki  Randall ! "  said  a  white-haired 
forgeman,  his  face  gleaming  with  as  kindly  a  glow 
now  as  it  frowned  with  scowling  envy  an  hour  ago. 
The  cheers  were  given  right  royally. 

How  easy  it  is  always  for  the  successful  man  to 
melt  the  hearts  of  the  weary  and  disappointed  who 
follow  him  with  envious  eyes.  All  these  working- 
men  were  perfectly  honest  this  moment  in  their 
affection  for  their  great  employer.  Yes,  these  about 
Randall  now  would  have  fought  for  him  now,  these 
who,  equally  honest,  an  hour  ago  would  have  fought 
against  him.  What  had  done  it?  He  had  come 
among  them.  He  had  acknowledged  himself  a 
brother  man  by  every  word  and  gesture.  That  was 
all.  Were  they  snobs  to  be  pleased  with  a  rattle 
shaken  in  patronizing  them  ?  No !  snobs  do  not 
work  for  a  living,  as  a  rule ;  that  is,  with  their 
hands. 

"  Ki,  we  used  to  see  more  of  you,"  spoke  out  clearly 
one  of  the  men.  "  You  used  to  get  time  to  walk  about 
in  the  foundry  and  the  yards,  and  talk  to  old  friends. 
Clarkson  often  does  now." 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  171 

"  Yes,  yes,  by  George  !  "  replied  the  millionaire  in 
almost  a  broken  voice.  "  I've  got  too  much  on  me, 
Norton." 

O  ye  patent-reformers,  do  you  see  that?  The 
smile  that  broke  over  the  rugged  face  of  Norton,  as 
the  now  millionaire  playmate  of  fifty  years  ago  called 
him  so  readily  by  name  ?  Such  a  remembering  is  "  a 
bugle-call  worth  a  thousand  men "  to  fight  down 
strikes.  Norton  got  his  old  wife  up  presently,  and 
pulled  "  Hannah  "  along  to  shake  hands.  Then  he 
stumped  on0  and  brought  up  two  of  his  sons  to  shake 
hands.  There  was  another  Norton  'son,  by  the  way, 
not  now  present,  a  struggling  young  politician  in 
Chicago,  who  had  at  the  time  of  a  well-known  civic 
horror  cheered  for  the  anarchists.  This  dangerous, 
brainy  young  Chicagoan  will  get  a  mother's  letter 
to-night,  speaking  kindly  words  of  the  New  England 
millionaire.  A  stone  thrown  by  a  mother's  hand  in 
the  deep  pool  of  a  boy's  mind  makes  a  wide  circle  on 
the  waters.  Eighteen  newspaper  editorials  denoun- 
cing anarchists  will  not  affect  the  young  politician's 
mind  so  much. 

"  To  tell  the  truth,  Webster  —  how  are  ye,  Jim 
—  I'm  bored  to  death  with  business.  Oh!  is  that 
you,  Keats  ?  By  George,  men,  I'm  just  driven  to 
death !  I  have  more  on  me  than  I  used  to  have.  I 
don't  know  as  I'm  any  happier."  The  Governor  had 
stepped  down  from  the  rostrum,  and  was  moving  in 


172  NONE  SUCH? 

and  out  among  his  people,  standing  with  his  hands 
011  his  hips,  bowing  and  chatting.  "I  ought  to  see 
more  of  you.  Come  up  to  the  house.  By  George  ! 
I'm  going  to  take  Clarkson's  suggestion  and  have 
you  all  hands  up  there  on  Christmas  or  Thanks- 
giving." 

"  Have  that  young  chap,  Horicon,  make  a  speech," 
cried  out  some  one. 

"Yes;  to  be  sure.  Where  is  he?"  And  in  a  ner- 
vous way  the  Governor,  bethinking  him  of  his  un- 
finished conversation  with  Horicon,  began  looking 
about  for  that  yo'ung  man  of  destiny.  "  Is  he  gone  ? 
I  say,  Hartley,"  he  cried,  raising  his  voice,  "find 
Horicon.  Detain  him.  I  ivant  to  see  him,  want  to 
see  him  this  afternoon  too.  I'm  off  to  the  South- 
west, you  know,  to-morrow." 

The  attorney  was  too  shrewd  to  reply  aloud.  In 
fact,  it  seemed  to  him  wiser  to  wait,  for  affairs  were 
working  with  a  fatality  of  evil  in  his  own  way  so 
unexpectedly  that  he  could  hardly  believe  his  own 
senses.  At  the  precise  moment  that  his  employer 
yelled  out  his  peremptory  order  to  him,  the  attorney 
was  watching  Mr.  Horicon  and  Miss  Sampson.  The 
two  had  slowly  movred  through  an  ante-room,  the 
bright  girl  fairly  storming  the  young  man  with  her 
genteel  attentions.  All  her  movements  were  well- 
bred,  delicate,  and  therefore  most  efficient.  She  was 
certainly  avenging  herself  in  a  woman's  own  way. 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  173 

As  he  had  captured  her,  her  pride  —  and  dawning 
affection  ?  —  demanded  that  she  capture  him  in  order 
to  maintain  real  mastery  of  the  field. 

"Let  them  alone,  Althorp,"  the  Judge  was  whis- 
pering. "  Don't,  for  the  devil's  own  sake,  say  a  word 
to  him.  You  must  not,  at  any  time,  take  him  out  of 
my  hands.  Swallow  your  resentment.  I'll  loan  you 
all  the  money  you  want.  In  five  minutes  more  she'll 
have  him  in  her  carriage.  Just  to  think  of  it !  Was 
there  ever  anything  so  lucky?  Here  we  were  knocked 
into  a  cocked  hat  twenty  minutes  ago ;  but  now, 
there  they  go  down  the  stairs !  Don't  speak.  The 
Governor?  I  see  he's  still  busy.  Now,  I  do  believe 
there  must  be  a  devil,  the  thing  is  so  complete. 
Quick  !  "  and  he  gave  Althorp  a  push.  "  Step  to  the 
window.  Has  she  got  him  into  the  carriage  ?  " 

"  He's  in,"  presently  the  obedient  Althorp  seemed 
by  a  gesture  to  reply  Then  in  a  low  tone :  "  She  is 
giving  the  coachman  orders  to  go  up  the  hill  towards 
Horicon's  lodge.  Now  she's  getting  in." 

"  Governor  !  "  The  Judge  shouted  it.  "  Mr. 
Horicon  is  going  up  the  hill  towards  the  lodge  in 
Glen  Theron.  Shall  we  overtake  him?  " 

The  unsuspecting  Governor  disengaged  himself 
from  his  admirers  with  a  warmer  feeling  in  his  old 
heart  than  he  had  had  for  many  a  long,  lonely  day. 
At  the  door  every  man  cheered  him,  this  man  of 
power  who  was  for  the  most  part  but  a  Name  in  the 


174  NONE  SUCH? 

great,  growing  city,  an  invisible,  all-pervading  Influ- 
ence that  touched  everything  and  everybody  every- 
where, and  was  the  familiarized  thought  of  their 
mornings  and  evenings,  summers  and  winters,  year 
after  year.  But  now  this  Name  had  stood  among 
them  again.  They  had  seen  that  It  was  he,  flesh  and 
blood  and  human  soul  too.  They  had  seen  It  look- 
ing sad,  weary,  ageing,  and  heard  It  laugh  with 
real  delight  at  the  greetings  of  their  own  human- 
ity, young  and  old,  this  puissant  Name,  Governor 
Randall. 

"  Hurrah,  hurrah,  hurrah  !  "  These  people  all 
gloried  in  their  great  man.  They  all  acknowledged 
his  superiority.  They,  these  freemen  and  no  serfs, 
were  all  proud  to  belong  to  him  —  when  he  showed 
that  he  belonged  to  them  in  the  wide  brotherhood. 

All  ?  Not  all.  Director  Sampson,  not  present 
here,  of  course,  played  the  snob  and  belonged  to 
Randall  for  what  he  could  make  out  of  him.  Ditto 
the  aldermen,  ditto  the  college  people  and  hospital 
and  library  people,  and  the  newly  rich  and  the  old- 
family-Broad-Street-blue-blood  people,  who  antedated 
him  a  generation,  all  acting  in  accord  for  one  thing  at 
least.  These  must  all  have  been  snobs.  They  bowed 
to  Randall's  money,  while  they  affected  contempt  for 
the  man  when  he  was  not  present.  No  one  knew  this 
better  than  he.  Hence  he  was  never  happy  in  the 
midst  of  their  adulations.  No,  not  all,  let  it  be  con- 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  175 

fessed,  honestly  gloried  in  their  great  man.  For  at 
the  door  of  Harmony  Hall  also  the  new  young  apos- 
tles of  Altruism  muttered,  as  the  old  man  and  his 
attorney  began  to  walk  up  the  hill,  — 

"  He's  got  all  that  heart  could  wish,  old  Mil- 
lions !  " 

How  much  they  knew  of  the  other  man. 

"  He's  fixed,  old  Money  Bags,"  snapped  out  an- 
other. 

Fixed?  What,  with  those  same  money  bags  to  be 
disposed  of  very  soon  ?  Oh,  yes,  fixed,  young  sirs. 
But  if  you  could  only  overhear  Judge  Hartley,  chief 
overseer  and  confidential  man,  as  this  very  moment 
he  is  unfixing  him. 

"  What  does  the  old  heap  of  selfishness  want?  "  still 
another  young  working-man  savagely  demanded,  and 
none  replying,  "  slaving  among  us  to  add  millions  to 
millions  ?  He  hain't  chick  nor  child.  I  have  nine 
hungry  mouths  to  feed,  an'  one  on  'em  a  dyin'  gal  o' 
fourteen.  What  does  the  old  grub  want  ?  —  the 
earth  ?  " 

What  did  he  want,  to  be  sure  ?  He  wanted  every- 
thing that  money  could  not  buy, — a  friend  that 
loved  him  for  himself  alone ;  a  white-haired  mate 
to  greet  him  at  his  marble  portico,  her  who  slept  be- 
neath the  other  marbles  in  the  churchyard  of  St. 
Ann's;  a  child's  child,  yes,  the  children  of  children, 
with  his  own  blood  in  their  veins ;  a  quiet  hour 


176  NONE  SUCH? 

when  the  slamming  of  a  door  wouxd  not  make  his 
tense  nerves  jump;  a  night  of  sleep  when  "North- 
west systems  "  did  not  fight  with  "  Lake  Shore  sys- 
tems "  above  his  bed.  All  these  he  wanted  sore,  and 
the  sum  of  them  is  far  less  than  "  the  earth." 

Wanted?  A  sweet  and  calm  sense  of  the  Divine 
protection,  which  the  daily  sense  of  syndicate  and 
bank  protection  had  utterly  killed  out  of  his  heart. 
Wanted  ?  Time  for  a  song,  this  lover  of  music ; 
time  for  his  conservatory,  this  lover  of  flowers ;  time 
for  even  his  horses,  graceful  creatures  in  palatial 
stalls,  the  delight  and  pets  of  grooms  alone,  who 
seemed  really  to  own  them. 

No,  the  grumbling  knot  at  the  door  of  Harmony 
Hall  was  not  quite  right.  They  did  not  know  all. 
Al thorp  had  not  got  all  the  truth  and  the  whole 
truth.  Uneasy  lies  the  head  that  wears  a  crown, 
in  America  as  elsewhere.  Althorps  being  bright, 
know  this ;  therefore,  teaching  the  contrary,  they 
lie. 

A  rich  man  built  a  school  of  technique  in  Cam- 
bridge. The  most  valuable  part  of  the  gift  was  the 
legend  over  the  door :  "  WORK  is  ONE  OF  OUR 

GREATEST    BLESSINGS." 

Governor  Randall's  chief  happiness  was  in  work. 
There  was  another  source  of  happiness  which  he  was 
reaching  for  vaguely.  Nearly  all  very  rich  men  come 
sooner  or  later  to  reach  for  it ;  namely,  the  making 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  177 

others  happy  and  living  one's  old  and  worn  life  over 
again  in  the  lives  of  younger  persons. 

u  This  has  been  a  great  experience,  Judge,"  the 
Governor  was  saying,  as  they  struck  a  swinging  pace 
up  Franklin  Street  hill.  UI  wish  I  hadn't  got  to  go 
West  to-morrow.  I'd  like  to  follow  up  this  plan  of 
mine.  My  mind  is  clear,  Judge.  Horicon  will  be 
my  Rob  over  again.  He  will  be  Ki  Randall  over 
again.  Yes,  yes." 

The  Governor  went  on  talking  cheerily.  His  blue 
eyes  fairly  laughed ;  he  took  long,  swinging  strides, 
and  clapped  his  hands  to  his  hips,  while  he  looked 
upward  to  the  climbing  dusty  street,  to  the  top  of 
the  hill,  to  the  carriage  that  was  climbing  towards  the 
grove  of  hemlocks  away  at  the  distant  edge  of  the 
town.  He  saw  a  way  out  with  these  beggarly  mil- 
lions. He  thought  he  saw  a  new  and  better  invest- 

o 

ment  than  any  he  had  ever  made,  —  how  to  make  his 
millions  tell  for  human  happiness  and  most  for  his  own. 
"  Which  way  did  you  say  Horicon  went,  Hartley  ? 
I  want  to  see  him.  I  want  him  to  dinner  to-day  at 
Glen  Theron.  You  needn't  come.  I  want  him  and 
Clarkson  and  Dorothea  Mayfield.  D'ye  suppose 
she'd  stand  on  ceremony  ?  Of  course  she'd  let  her 

—  her  beau  invite  her  over.     I  want  to  make  it  all 
up  and  explain  it,  what  I  am  going  to  do  with  him 

—  let  him  be  my  almoner,  you  know,  do  what  he  said 
he'd  do  if  he  had  millions." 


178  NONE  SUCH? 

Judge  Hartley  had  thus  far  said  little,  but  he  had 
kept  his  eye  on  distances.  He  encouraged  the  mil- 
lionaire to  talk  on,  timing  their  steps,  till  now  the 
street  turned  to  the  left.  The  carriage  began  also  to 
make  down  Seneca  Street. 

"Let's  take  this  short  cut  through  Peete  Lane," 
suggested  the  Judge.  It  was  but  a  step.  The  Gov- 
ernor was  busy  with  his  great  plan,  and  walked  three 
minutes  without  insisting  on  an  answer  to  his  last 
question.  As  they  were  about  to  emerge  into  Seneca 
Street  the  Judge  was  ready  to  reply.  The  carriage 
was  rapidly  descending  towards  them. 

"  You  asked  -where  Horicon  disappeared  to,"  said 
the  Judge.  "  Look  there  ! "  It  was  the  tone  of  the 
words,  the  I-told-you-so  air  of  the  man,  as  his  finger 
pointed  for  a  minute  to  the  chatty  young  couple  in 
the  carriage,  who  were  wholly  unconscious  that  any 
one  might  be  observing  them.  It  was  not  a  lover's 
languid  conversation.  It  was  an  animated  discussion, 
in  which  the  young  lady  showed  at  her  best,  and  the 
young  man  appeared  to  be  intently  listening. 

"  Hey  ? "  was  the  Governor's  careless  exclama- 
tion by  way  of  asking  what  there  was  to  see. 

"  Oh,  nothing,  only  there's  your  model  young  man 
making  love  to  my  son's  affianced,"  replied  the  attor- 
ney, wagging  his  head  derisively.  "  I  bid  you  good- 
morning,  Governor.  I  reckon  you  can  extend  your 
own  dining  invitations.  Better  ask  the  two  girls 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  179 

whom  this  male  flirt  is  playing  with,  eh?  I'll  go 
home  and  drive  with  Marcellus." 

"  What?  "  The  Governor  was  bristling  with  sus- 
picion now.  The  reader  may  find  it  hard  to  under- 
stand how  he  could  so  quickly  fall  into  the  lawyer's 
trap.  But  reflect.  Suspicion  becomes  like  the  vital 
air  to  a  man  who  has  lived  to  get  and  guard  millions 
of  money  a  few  years.  The  suggestion,  moreover, 
was  not  so  very  strange,  considering  the  charming 
woman  who,  like  a  vision  of  beauty,  sat  there  in  the 
vehicle  before  his  own  eyes. 

Horicon  and  Miss  Sampson  bowed  politely.  The 
Governor  adjusted  his  eye-glasses  and  returned  their 
salutation  with  'a  curt  nod.  It  was  not  difficult  to 
plant  this  seed  of  distrust  of  a  young  fellow  in  the 
Governor's  mind;  for  the  financier  who  could  feel  the 
slightest  zephyr  of  changing  markets  in  stocks  and 
bonds  had  had  no  experience  with  youth  for  years, 
except  as  accountants  or  agents  in  trade. 

Ten  thousand  rich  fathers  with  children  about 
them,  "bothering"  them  all  the  years  long,  and  grow- 
ing up  "  under  their  feet "  do  not  know  their  own 
young  people.  There  is  no  time,  you  see.  The  rich 
man  lives  in  his  gripsack  ;  it  is  always  packed  in  his 
office,  and  he  is  off  for  a  thousand  miles  in  a  moment, 
and  gone  for  a  month.  Millions  are  suspicious. 
Millions  are  exacting.  Millions  must  be  cared  for. 
Children  can  care  for  themselves,  being  of  less  ac- 


180  NONE  SUCH? 

count  down  town  where  children  by  the  street  full 
swarm  under  one's  horse's  feet.  A  millionaire  who 
tenderly  loved  and  wisely  cared  for  his  own  family, 
holding  them  more  precious  than  all  the  world ! 
There  have  been  only  five  or  six  such  in  the  history 
of  the  republic. 

Then,  too,  it  is  such  a  selfish  thing  to  make  money 
mainly  for  one's  own  children,  so  many  of  the  reform- 
ers tell  us ;  to  die  and  leave  money  mostly  to  one's 
own  kin,  for  whose  sakes  one  has  been  really  secretly 
living,  for  whose  sakes  one  has  been  willing  to  sac- 
rifice time  that  one  may  win  and  keep  kindred  love ; 
so  selfish,  so  many  an  editorial  tells  us,  when  the  will 
is  published,  and  the  starveling  college  full  of  other 
men's  children  is  not  chiefly  mentioned,  getting  a 
lion's  share,  but  one's  own  children  are  the  main 
beneficiaries.  Very  selfish ! 

But  the  lone  old  Governor,  standing  there  at  the 
roadside.  The  summer  sun  was  shining  still  on  all 
the  fair  landscape,  and  silvering  over  with  such  a 
radiance  the  velvet  acres  of  Glen  Theron  just  beyond 
him.  In  the  heart  of  the  owner,  however,  a  sudden 
shadow  was  falling,  a  gloomy  perplexity  was  again 
asserting  its  fogs  and  mists.  It  was  all  precisely  as 
the  shrewd  Judge  had  desired. 

"  Good-morning,  Governor.  I'll  go  home,"  the 
Judge  repeated. 

"  No.  Stop,  by  George  !  Come  on  here,  Hartley. 
Tell  me  what  you  mean,  what  this  all  means." 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.          181 

It  is  not  necessary  to  repeat  what  the  yielding  at- 
torney said.  It  is  a  simple  old  story  in  this  wicked 
world.  He  worked  the  situation  to  its  utmost.  It 
was  his  time  to  talk  now.  Not  that  he  cared  for  his*" 
own  son's  disappointment  so  much,  he  assured  the 
Governor,  though  naturally  he  suffered  the  poi- 
gnancy of  an  affectionate  father's  grief  for  his  only 
child's  wrongs.  Of  course,  Marcellus  could  not  fail 
to  manifest  proper  spirit.  Indeed,  he  had  already 
expressed  his  contempt  for  Horicon  freely,  as  much 
on  the  lovely  Miss  Mayfield's  account  as  his  own. 
His  boy  would  survive.  But  it  was  outrageous,  as 
it  certainly  would  be  outrageous  in  him,  Judge  Hart- 
ley, if  he  did  not  feel  the  most  indignant  on  account 
of  his  old  friend,  Governor  Randall,  who  was  valuing 
too  highly  this  young  scape  — 

"  Have  a  care,  Judge.  I  hain't  decided  yet," 
growled  the  Governor,  in  sullen  distress.  "I  must 
see  John  Clarkson." 

"Certainly."  The  Judge  softened  pliantly.  "Be- 
fore you  expose  your  millions  to  the  chances  of  an 
original  dream  you  will  inquire  for  yourself." 

"  My  millions  be  hanged  !  "  groaned  the  Governor. 
"  I'm  not  responsible  longer  than  I'm  living.  It's  the 
fun  of  making  the  millions  that  I  enjoy.  But  as  to 
what  I'm  to  do  with  them,  why,  I  wish  God  Almighty 
would  either  take  them  or  else  take  away  the  con- 
science I  have  about  what's  to  become  of  them." 


182  NONE  SUCH? 

"  God  Almighty,  pardon  me,  Governor,  don't  seem 
to  manage  money  any  better  than  you  do.  I  think  I 
myself  could  give  your  Deity  some  points." 

"  Ye-e-es. "  There  was  a  sting  in  that  snarl  that 
the  Judge  ought  to  have  felt. 

"What  I  mean  is  that  God,  if  there  be  one,  you 
know,  spatters  wealth  around  about  as  he  does  rain. 
Some  it  hits  and  some  it  don't.  The  meanest  men 
are  often  the  most  soaked  with  it." 

"That's  so,"  replied  the  Governor.  "Look  at 
John  Clarkson  and  then  at  me.  By  George !  I'm  not 
sure  but  that  shows  what  a  good  God's  opinion  of 
money  really  is.  He  knows  it  is  no  great  good.  Hi ! 
How  it  grips  !  "  And  the  old  man  stopped  suddenly, 
clapping  his  hand  to  his  side,  while  his  lips  turned 
livid. 

The  Judge  knew  better  than  to  notice  the  paroxysm 
of  physical  pain,  evidence  of  some  hidden  malady 
which  of  late  was  frequent  with  his  lord  and  master. 
So  he  went  on  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  and  rather 
enjoying  the  added  mental  pain  he  knew  he  was 
inflicting,  saying  :  "  What  I  meant  was,  Governor, 
that  your  Almighty  is  responsible  for  more  mistakes 
in  managing  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills,  and  the 
silver  and  gold  all  his,  than  you  ever  made.  Didn't 
he  leave  that  sweet  Miss  Mayfield  poor,  and  make  you 
build  a  fortune  for  Miss  Sampson's  father." 

"  Look  here,  Hartley,"  —  the  Governor  was  savage 


THERE   WILL    YET  UE  THOUSANDS.  183 

on  the  skeptic,  —  "as  a  man  gets  nearer  the  end  he 
believes  what  his  mother  and  his  Anna  taught  him. 
My  very  trouble  is  right  there.  The  Almighty  didn't 
make  any  mistake  when  he  set  me  to  making 
millions.  By  George !  he  knew  what  he  was  about. 
But  now  he  expects  me  to  do  with  the  money  as 
well,  when  I  leave  it,  as  I  did  in  scraping  it  together. 
It's  God  that  is  troubling  me.  The  Almighty  has 
got  a  heavy  account  against  me.  I'm  not  sure  I 
hain't  been  wrong  in  not  taking  trouble  to  use  these 
millions  of  his  all  the  way  along.  Now  I've  got  to 
find  some  other  fellow  to  do  it.  Hi !  how  it  grips  ! 
Hi!" 

At  this  moment  they  both  saw  John  Clarkson 
approaching,  thumping  his  ample  person  with  a 
gesture  that  meant  dinner. 

"Now,  go  'long  with  you,  Hartley,"  cried  the 
Governor.  "  You  do  me  no  good  when  my  mind  is 
touched  as  it  is  now.  I'd  give  more  for  an  hour  of 
John  Clarkson,  old  three-feet-to-the-yard,  all-wool 
Christian  just  coming  from  church,  than  for  a  year 
of  you.  By  the  way,  you  know  I  am  going  to  Fort 
Worth,  Texas,  to-morrow.  Have  you  got  those 
Cotton  Belt  papers  ready  ?  Have  everything  at  the 
car  early.  I'll  warm  those  fellows,  by  George  !  It's 
going  to  be  a  fight.  Keep  me  posted  about  this 
pesky  little  strike.  Don't  want  it  now,  by  any  means. 
Times  are  too  hard,  and  prospect  of  dividends  all  too 


184  NONE  SUCH  ? 

small.  Marcellus,  of  course,  goes  with  me,  I'll  fight 
that  traffic  agreement.  The  old  Santa  Fe*  ain't  dead 
yet,  by  a  long  shot,  nor  the  Mexican  Central  either. 
We  shall  have  to  borrow  a  million  probably  about  the 
tenth.  Then,  when  I  get  back  to  New  York,  I'll  feel 
the  market.  Probably  it  may  take  another  million 
and  a  half  there.  I'll  telegraph  you  to  meet  me  in 
New  York  or  Albany  on  my  return." 

Here  was  a  study,  this  changing  face,  now  all 
luminous  from  the  high  thinking  on  a  great  financial 
campaign.  It  was  like  the  sudden  glow  of  "  heat 
lightning."  The  fatigue  was  gone,  the  sadness 
scarcely  lingered.  The  tone  of  disgust  with  life  had 
given  instant  place  to  the  clear  ringing  voice  of  a 
born  commander's  call.  For  ten  minutes  this  cap- 
tain of  many  victories  talked  on,  giving  such  in- 
structions as  this  really  able  lawyer  might  need  both 
for  himself  and  other  marshals  of  divisions.  The 
names  of  America's  other  millionaires  figured  with 
familiarest  mention  in  the  plotting  of  this  bold 
gamester  —  these  giants'  names  in  place  of  Charley 
Horicon's  and  Dorothea's  and  Hennie's  of  the  brief 
moments  ago. 

Of  course.  What  are  human  hearts,  what  is  that 
historic  human  love,  a  boy's  truth  to  a  girl,  a  girl's 
future  life,  —  what  are  these  perishing  things  in  com- 
parison, when  one  is  manager  of  vast  capital,  masses 
of  steel,  acres  of  coal  and  wheat  and  other  freight- 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  185 

producing  lands,  and  the  movements  of  colossal 
finances  ?  What  are  these  ?  Why,  nothing  or  every- 
thing, just  as  you  are  a  fool  or  wise.  Take  from  the 
earth  the  woman's  son  and  daughter,  and  bats  and 
crows  may  have  your  stocks  and  bonds,  and  all  the 
balance  of  the  estate. 

The  lawyer  was  about  to  turn  away,  with  work 
enough  committed  to  him  in  these  few  minutes  to 
keep  him  awake  and  toiling  all  the  Sabbath  hours 
left,  and  all  the  night,  when  the  Governor  suddenly 
added :  — 

"  By  the  way,  this  other  business.  Horicon  is  still 
in  my  employ.  I  understand  it  so,  eh?" 

"I  know  nothing  to  the  contrary,  sir,"  answered 
the  attorney. 

"  All  right.  Let  him  alone  till  I  get  back.  I'll 
send  John  Clarkson  to  —  I  say,  John,  John  !  " 

"  Gosh,  your  Excellency,  here  I  am,  what's  left  on 
me,"  echoed  back  the  happy  reply,  as  the  old  man 
got  up  from  a  little  fountain  curb  and  drew  near. 

"  What's  left  of  you  ? "  replied  the  rich  man. 
"  You'd  make  a  big  grease  spot  yet,  John.  Hungry, 
I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Look  a  here,  Ki  Randall,"  pulling  at  his  waist- 
band, "  the  front  part  of  my  bread-basket  is  so  ker- 
lapsed  that  it  is  in  danger,  —  that  it  is  in  danger  of 
ketchin'  on  my  backbone,  I  swow !  I'm  lanker'n  a 
June  shad." 


186  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Dear  old  friend,"  resumed  the  Governor,  breaking 
into  a  weary  smile.  "  Come  and  walk  with  me.  Don't 
talk.  Let's  just  get  down  to  the  table  and  listen 
to  the  music.  Then  I'll  talk." 

It  had  been  a  suggestion  of  Charles  Horicon  to  the 
housekeeper,  Dorothea  Mayfield,  in  her  time  at  the 
mansion,  that  a  man  as  fond  of  music  as  Governor 
Randall  was,  ought  to  pay  a  small  orchestra  to  regale 
the  dinner  hour.  The  young  lady  had  begun  the 
experiment  by  the  piano  at  the  old  man's  evening 
and  often  solitary  dinner.  When  she  had  found  him 
restful,  lingering  longer  and  longer  at  the  table, 
where  his  food  was  always  the  least  of  his  cares ; 
when  she  had  seen  him  at  length  drawing  his  chair 
into  a  comfort  nook  away  from  his  desk,  and  listening 
as  she  played,  she  had  suggested  the  players.  It 
pleased  the  Governor,  and  ever  since  the  musicians 
had  been  a  fixed  institution  of  Sunday's  dinner. 

When  the  two  men,  Governor  Randall  and  John 
Clarkson,  were  fairly  seated  at  table,  the  Governor 
began  talking  again.  "  I'm  going  to  Texas  to-mor- 
row, John.  I  shall  be  back  in  two  weeks.  I  want 
you  to  keep  an  eye  out  on  this  young  fellow,  Horicon." 

"  Can't  do  it,  Ki.  He's  finer'n  silk  ;  don't  need  no 
watchin'.  Besides,  Ki,  don't  ye  know  me?  I  can't 
spy  out  no  feller." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  old  Honesty,"  said  the  Gov- 
ernor quickly,  and  coloring  too.  "  I  don't  mean  that. 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  187 

I'm  not  getting  anywhere  trying  to  make  other  peo- 
ple happy.  I've  got  to  let  it  rest  —  a  while.  You 
like  Dorothea  May  field  ?  " 

"  You  can  just  bet  I'm  struck  with  her,  Ki.  She's 
a  noble  woman.  She'll  make  a  fine  mate  for  the 
boy." 

"  Will  she  ?  "  asked  the  Governor  sharply.  But 
his  old  friend  did  not  comprehend  the  question, 
unless  it  might  mean  that  the  Governor  was  hinting 
at  a  return  to  his  own  folly  in  pressing  his  suit  for 
Dorothea's  hand.  To  oppose  an  aged  lover,  however, 
makes  even  worse  friends  than  to  oppose  a  youthful 
lover,  and  John  Clarkson  did  not  venture  again.  The 
remark,  nevertheless,  distressed  him  and  made  him 
taciturn. 

The  men  finished  their  meal  and  returned  to  the 
library.  The  Sabbath  sun  sank  low,  and  sent  now  its 
scarlet  rays  across  the  distant  reddening  river,  the 
fountains  catching  deeper  colors  from  its  shafts.  The 
cool  breath  from  the  mountains  delayed  its  usual  ad- 
vent, and  the  great  house  with  open  doors  and  win- 
dows seemed  with  difficulty  to  draw  its  breath.  The 
musicians  had  been  allowed  to  adjourn  to  the  eastern 
portico,  where  their  audience  was  somewhat  increased 
by  the  people  of  the  place,  workmen,  their  wives  and 
children,  and  a  few  carriages  which  ventured  to  park 
themselves  along  the  east  driveway,  unbidden  and 
yet  not  unwelcome. 


188  NONE  SUCH? 

"  John,"  remarked  the  Governor,  as  he  sat  smoking 
his  cigar  to  match  John's  pipe,  and  regarding  the 
scene,  "'a  man  ought  to  keep  open  house  in  such 
a  place  as  this.  First,  his  own  children,  a  good-sized 
brood  of  them,  ought  to  make  the  old  house  merry, 
they  growing  up  and  attracting  other  young  people 
for  a  generation  to  come.  Here's  room  enough.  I 
often  think  on't  when  in  New  York,  these  hot  days, 
I  see  the  street  urchins.  It's  very  odd  how  things 
are  mixed  in  this  world.  The  man  who  ha,;  lots  of 
little  human  lives  about  him  hain't  any  money  to 
take  care  of  'em,  while  many  of  us  who  have  lots  of 
money  have  no  human  life  round  about  us,  and  pre- 
cious little  left  in  our  own  hearts.  '  What  a  fool  that 
Horicon  is !  As  for  Miss  Mayfield,  I'll  protect  her 
as  if  —  as  if" — 

"  As  if  she  was  your  own  darter  !  "  John  ventured 
to  explode. 

To  this  the  Governor  made  no  reply.  But  he  went 
to  his  desk  suddenly,  as  if  at  last  he  had  got  the  cour- 
age of  his  convictions,  took  a  safe-key  from  his  desk, 
opened  the  safe  between  the  windows,  grasped  a  paper 
in  his  hands  precisely  as  he  had  held  a  similar  paper, 
or  the  same  one,  on  the  occasion  of  the  encounter  by 
the  schoolhouse,  when  the  attorney  came  upon  his 
officious  errand,  you  remember.  For  a  moment  he 
held  it,  this  paper,  let  us  guess,  worth  the  destiny  of 
thirty-five  millions  of  money,  more  or  less  —  guess. 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  189 

If  it  was  the  will,  it  had  not  been  destroyed  then. 
Nor  was  it  destroyed  now.  It  was  thrust  back  again 
into  its  place,  locked  in,  doubly  locked  in. 

Turning  about,  the  Governor  remarked  to  the  por- 
trait on  the  wall,  "  By  George,  Robbie,  he  looks  so 
much  like  you !  I  can't  do  it  yet.  Wait  and  see.  I 
shall  live  two  weeks  more,  I  hope.  I'll  think  it  over. 
I've  got  another  kind  of  fight  on  hand  now." 

And  so  the  nightfall  ended  this  day.  The  music 
ceased.  The  two  old  friends  sought  their  beds.  The 
little  audience  on  the  lawns  dispersed.  The  great 
house  shut  up  its  eyes  and  went  to  sleep.  The  foun- 
tains played  on  alone. 

The  next  morning  business  began  in  right  earnest, 
the  business  of  making  more  millions  when  the  owner 
did  not  know,  for  the  life  of  him,  what  to  do  with  the 
millions  he  had  already  made.  By  ten  o'clock  the 
President's  special  had  begun  its  flight  to  the  great 
South-west. 


190 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ON  the  hilltop  the  district  school  had  opened  as 
usual  Monday  morning,  and  Dorothea  Mayfield  was 
in  her  place,  earning  her  daily  bread.  Her  brave 
young  face  was  as  bright  as  ever,  so  any  pupil  would 
have  said.  If  she  found  more  frequent  occasion  to 
wander  to  the  windows  that  looked  down  on  the  broad 
stretches  of  Glen  Theron  acres,  there  was  no  critic 
in  the  schoolroom  to  note  it.  If  at  recess,  or  at  the 
nooning,  she  stood  longer  beneath  the  maple  shade  by 
the  highway  wall,  or  if  she  mounted  the  broken  wall, 
and  like  a  mariner  upon  some  less  stormy  sea  than 
that  of  youth  stood  in  the  fluffing  breeze  peering 
down  among  the  workmen  at  the  great  tunnel,  no  one 
of  the  little  folks  about  her  asked  her  if  she  saw  him. 

She  did  not  see  Charley  Horicon  all  that  day,  nor 
the  next,  nor  the  next,  nor  was  he  among  the  work- 
men. It  was  the  morning  of  Thursday  at  length ;  and 
she  was  sure  she  saw  Mr.  Fred  Sebastian,  the  young 
engineer  classmate  of  Charley's,  whom  the  reader  will 
remember,  moving  about  among  the  men  as  if  in 
superintendence.  Later  in  the  forenoon  Fred  had 
appeared  at  the  schoolroom  door,  drinking  at  the  ever- 
favorite  water-pail  in  the  entryway,  and  apparently 
willing  to  attract  the  teacher's  attention.  Dorothea 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  191 

went  out  promptly  to  him,  playfully  shaking  her 
ruler  in  her  left  hand  as  she  extended  the  right 
with,  — 

"  Good-morning,  Mr.  Sebastian.  Are  you  at  the 
works  ?  Where  is  Charley  ?  "  She  regretted  in- 
stantly that  question,  but  her  suspense  had  been 
exceedingly  trying.  The  three  days  had  been  almost 
more  than  she  could  endure,  and  there  was  no  one 
whom  she  could  consult  except  her  melancholy 
mother. 

"  Why,  you  surprise  me,"  answered  Sebastian, 
extending  his  hand.  "  Excuse  my  appearance,"  with 
a  look  at  .his  working-clothes.  "  Charley  telegraphed 
me  at  Montreal  Sunday  night,  and  met  me  Monday 
night.  He  wished  me  to  take  his  place  on  the  works 
for  a  time,  perhaps  permanently.  Then  he  came  back, 
and  I  followed.  Have  you  also  been  in  the  dark  as 
to  his  whereabouts  ?  I  surely  am." 

So  this  was  the  situation.  Miss  May  field  did  not 
think  it  discreet  to  ask  more.  The  conversation  took 
a  turn  to  generalities,  and  they  parted  presently  with 
commonplace  remarks.  But  the  girl  was  not  to  be 
left  much  longer  in  the  misery  of  what  she  had  had 
every  reason  to  regard  as  a  serious  lovers'  quarrel. 

It  was  again  the  cool  of  summer  evening,  and  her 
little  company  were  about  her  trooping  homeward. 
Dorothea  had  taken  a  short  cut,  as  was  her  usual  cus- 
tom, through  the  north  gate  of  Glen  Theron,  and  had 


192  NONE  SUCH? 

come  as  far  as  the  fountain  of  the  Naiads,  where  the 
path  divided,  one  fork  leading  directly  on  her  home- 
ward way,  but  past  the  gardener's  little  stone  lodge, 
which  had  been  for  these  months  Charley  Horicon's 
residence.  Each  day  she  had  consulted  her  heart  and 
not  her  pique  and  walked  that  way.  That  was  to  her 
character  a  certain  key.  She,  the  honest-hearted,  earn- 
estly affectionate,  could  not  long  cherish  even  a  sense 
of  being  wronged,  to  say  nothing  of  a  feeling  of  anger. 
Then,  too,  she  was  so  thoroughly  unhappy  that  her 
good  sense  urged  her  to  seek  to  end  her  pain  by  finding 
Charley,  and  show  him  how  foolishly  he  was  acting, 
if  indeed  he  still  cherished  his  sense  of  offense.  More 
than  this  a  woman  could  not  do.  A  man  may  come 
and  say:  "Forgive  me."  One  could  hardly  expect 
a  young  girl,  at  least,  to  take  that  initiative.  Cer- 
tainly she  could  not  ask  at  his  own  door  where  he 
might  be.  A  moment  she  hesitated.  Then  she 
turned  her  chosen  path,  as  before. 

"  Dorothea !  "  The  well-known  voice.  The  next 
instant  from  behind  the  shrubbery,  while  he  hastened 
down  the  path  as  if  seeking  her,  she  saw  Charley 
Horicon.  She  beamed  on  him  instantly,  all  loveli- 
ness, echoing  his  greeting  with,  — 

"  Oh,  Charley  !  I  have  indeed  missed  you  so. 
Where  have  you  —  ho\v  could  you  keep  yourself 
away  from  me  so  long  ?  " 

"I  have  been  crowded  with  errands,  dearest,"  he 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  193 

replied,  taking  her  hand  and  pulling  her  arm  through 
his  own  while  he  retained  the  hand.  "  I  have  much 
to  say  to  you,  Dorothea,  but  not  here,  please ; "  and 
he  drew  her  attention  to  a  spectator  of  their  greeting 
who  was  at  that  moment  turning  her  horse's  head 
away  in  the  drive  above  them.  The  fair  rider  turned 
herself  in  the  saddle  to  throw  a  kiss,  undoubtedly 
intended  for  Miss  Mayfield. 

"  Oh,  Hennie  Sampson  !  "  was  Dorothea's  unsus- 
picious comment,  as  she  returned  the  salutation  from 
the  tips  of  her  own  pink  fingers.  "Have  you  and 
Hennie  been  in  some  conference  on  her  workingmen's 
troubles  ?  Why  does  she  not  stay  to  say  good-even- 
ing ?  What  ails  the  child  ?  She  hasn't  ridden  up  to 
our  cottage  since  Monday,  when  she  told  mamma  and 
me  all  about  your  splendid  speech,  Charley." 

"  Then  you  knew  all  about  that,  darling,"  replied 
he ;  and  there  was  every  evidence  in  his  air  of  a 
nameless  relief  from  the  presence  of  the  handsome 
woman  who  had  just  left  them.  Yet  Dorothea  was 
too  happy  to  notice  even  that. 

"  Yes,  Charley.  And  I  hear  you  are  a  kind  of  hero 
among  some  of  the  working  people,  —  so  I  gather  it 
from  the  children,  —  while  others,  I  fear,  do  not  think 
you  are  the  greatest  man  in  the  world  as  "  — 

"  As  you  do,  Dorothea  ?  '*  And  as  they  were  now 
quite  by  themselves,  kind  Heaven,  by  whom  matches 
are  said  to  be  made,  must  have  been  quite  satisfied 


194  NONE  SUCH? 

that  this  one  was  proceeding  normally  towards  its 
foreordained  end.  Had  the  Governor,  so  far  away, 
been  an  onlooker  at  that  moment  he  would  have 
saved  himself  and  others  much  suffering,  for  he  would 
have  known  the  truth  between  these  two.  Had 
Hennie  Sampson  seen  what  she  was  torturing  herself 
in  imagining  one  thing,  while  she  hoped  for  another, 
and  plotted  for  it  too,  she  might  have  galloped  away 
fast  and  far  to  save  herself  from  the  evil  of  her  own 
future  stratagems. 

Alone,  these  two,  in  conversation  that  had  many 
unwritable  things,  did  speak  some  things  that  can  be 
managed  with  prosy  words. 

•'  I  am  going  away  again."     This  he. 

"  Where  now  ? "  This  she,  never  so  much  as 
thinking  to  ask  "  With  whom?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  Washington.  I  expect  my  plans 
for  the  Naval  Hospital  grounds  will  win.  In  fact,  I 
am  about  certain  I  have  won,  and  they  will  be 
accepted." 

"  Of  course  they  will,"  she  answered. 

"  Well,  now,  it  is  not  quite  of  course,  young  lady, 
as  I  found  in  Boston  this  week,  where  the  examining 
board  has  been  in  session  for  a  month  past." 

"  In  Boston,  too,  this  week,  eh  ?  " 

"  Yes.  There  were  a  d§zen  of  us  submitted  plans. 
I  had  no  political  pull.  I  think  the  others,  some  of 
them,  at  least,  had.  You  don't  suppose  Governor 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  195 

Randall,  with  all  his  great  affairs  of  millions  on  his 
mind,  would  think  it  worth  while  to  be  vexed  be- 
cause I  take  him  at  his  word  and  leave  his  employ, 
and  so  use  his  tremendous  political  influence  to 
defeat  me,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Chaiiej'-,  now  are  you  really  resolved  on  leaving 
the  Governor  ?  "  Her  tone  had  grown  more  serious. 

"  Dorothea,  what  is  there  left  for  me  to  do?  You 
could  never  be  happy  with  my  loaf  earned  of  tho 
foolish  old  courtier  who  so  far  forgot  himself  as  to  "  — 

She  broke  into  a  laugh.  "  Propose  to  me  ?  You 
do  not  know  him.  It  was  all  forgotten  by  morning, 
I  do  believe.  But,  Charley,  did  I  not  hear  that  the 
Governor  expressed  the  most  decided  honor  for  you 
at  that  dreadful  Harmony  Hall?  And  were  you  not 
promised  "  —  this  with  a  mischievous  twinkle  in  her 
eyes,  for  she  had  been  secretly  delighted  beyond 
measure  that  he  had  not  even  referred  to  these  great 
expectations  —  "  that  you  were  destined  heir  of  all 
these  millions  and  ordained  almoner  of  Governor 
Randall's  charities  ?  " 

"  I  retaliate,"  lie  answered.  "  It  was  all  out  of  his 
mind  by  the  next  morning,  as  you  just  said  of  his 
fancy  for  you.  He's  off  milking  more  millions.  No, 
Dorothea,  I  am  done  here.  I  promised  you  we  would 
be  married  and  living  in  Boston  before  snow  flies. 
Don't  you  suppose  I  see  a  way?  I  shall  try  to  get  a 
decent  appointment  in  the  navy  to  supervise  my  own 


196  NONE  SUCH? 

plans,  if  they  are  accepted.  We  will  go  right  away 
from  all  these  splendors  in  a  few  weeks,  my  dear 
one." 

She  yielded  to  him  in  a  womanly  way.  She  had 
no  lofty  ambitions  to  urge,  as  the  superb  Miss  Samp- 
son had.  He  could  not  but  recall  Miss  Sampson, 
suggested  by  the  contrast  of  her  ambitious  plans  for 
him.  He  regretted  the  promise  he  had  made  to  that 
brilliant  philosopher  to  accompany  her  "just  for  one 
evening,  if  no  more,"  in  Boston,  to  a  "  Theosophic 
Society  gathering,"  a  "  branch  altruistic  conference." 

"Dorothea,"  said  Charley  abruptly,  "  I  regret  that 
I  promised  Miss  Sampson  to  meet  her  in  Boston." 

"  Why,  you  did  not  tell  me  you  were  to  meet  her 
there,"  she  answered,  turning  wondering  eyes  on 
him. 

"  No,  and  that  has  troubled  me.  But  I  did  prom- 
ise, though ;  and  now  to-night  she  is  sure  I  could  be 
of  great  influence  in  averting  further  development 
of  this  once  threatening  labor  strike." 

"  She  is  such  a  strange  girl !  "  sighed  Dorothea. 
"  Do  you  know  I  have  seen  her  repeatedly  this  week 
walking  along  Franklin  Street  with  that  bad  man, 
Peter  Althorp.  She  seems  to  so  like  an  argument 
that  she  will  argue  with  any  one." 

"  Say  that  mad  man  Althorp,  rather,"  said  Horicon, 
striking  his  clenched  hand  into  his  open  palm  as  a 
token  of  perplexity,  if  not  of  indignation.  "  Why, 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  197 

she  claims  to  have  discovered  through  him  a  plot  to 
set  fire  to  some  of  the  Company's  buildings  in  Boston ; 
and  she  thinks  I  can  venture  to  interfere,  instead  of 
putting  the  police  on  his  track." 

"  It  is  not  the  way.  Oh,  I  am  sure  it  is  not  the 
way,"  protested  Dorothea,  halting  him  and  striking 
her  pretty  foot  on  the  path.  "  Do  let's  get  away 
from  all  this.  Let  us  pursue  our  quiet  life.  By 
being  happy  ourselves,  by  being  natural,  by  being 
good  in  our  own  little  world,  would  not  our  happiness 
teach  others  ?  " 

"For  all  that,  sweetheart,  I  think  I  must  redeem 
this  one  promise  to  her." 

They  were  now  at  her  mother's  gate ;  and  he  sat 
with  Dorothea  as  the  evening  stars  came  out  one  by 
one  upon  them,  in  the  shelter  of  the  humble  porch, 
in  the  old  way  of  this  old  world. 

Dorothea  Mayfield's  mind  was  at  rest,  therefore, 
for  the  next  ten  days.  She  heard  from  Charley  at 
Washington  constantly,  and  at  length  the  glad  tid- 
ings of  his  success  by  telegram.  She  heard  from  him 
in  New  York,  and  at  last  in  Boston.  But  after  the 
first  letter  announcing  his  arrival  at  the  Parker  House, 
there  was  a  strange  interval  of  four  days  without  her 
usual  morning  letter.  If  she  had  any  distrust  of 
Horicon,  Dorothea  had  no  ear  to  which  to  whisper  it. 
She  knew  Miss  Sampson  was  in  Boston  ;  but  that  was 
no  unusual  thing  with  the  girl,  whose  society  life  in 


198  NONE  SUCH? 

the  greater  city  was  very  flattering  to  one  of  her 
ambition,  and  made  up  a  large  part  of  her  "  duties," 
as  she  called  her  round  of  strangely  mingled  fashion 
and  "  meetings."  At  length  a  telegram  announced 
that  Charley  would  be  home  that  afternoon  and  would 
call  at  her  mother's  cottage. 

This  is  why  he  did  not  appear. 

As  Charles  Horicon  stepped  from  the  two  o'clock 
train  in  the  big  station,  a  depot  porter  tapped  him  on 
the  shoulder,  and  informed  him  that  Judge  Hartley 
wished  to  see  him  at  once  in  the  offices  of  the 
corporations. 

"  Judge  Hartley  ?  How  does  he  know  of  my 
movements  ?  "  he  demanded.  But  that  was  a  foolish 
question.  The  harness  of  telegraphic  wires,  with 
which  great  railroad  managers  learn  everything  they 
wish  to  know  about  their  fellow-men,  came  at  once 
to  his  mind.  "  No  doubt  he  knew  when  I  left  Bos- 
ton," Horicon  mused  to  himself.  "  Well,  I'll  run 
up-stairs  a  moment  before  going  to  Dorothea.  Then 
afternoon  and  evening  will  be  my  own." 

A  moment  later  he  entered  the  private  office  of 
the  attorney  with  the  abrupt  remark  :  "  Good-after- 
noon, Judge  Hartley.  I  was  told  that  you  wished 
to  see  me  here." 

"Well,"  exclaimed  the  Judge,  glancing  up  from 
his  desk  and  motioning  Horicon  to  sit,  which  the 
young  man  declined  to  do.  "  You've  acted  quickly. 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  199 

Got  an  appointment  at  the  fort,  I  guess.  What  are 
you?" 

The  lawyer  might  well  have  been  surprised.  His 
telegraphic  scout  in  Boston  station  had  not  described 
the  naval  uniform  that  fitted  the  shapely  form  of 
Charles  Horicon  so  becomingly.  In  fact,  the  uniform 
was  very  new.  It  had  been  upon  its  owner's  person 
•scarce  three  hours  up  to  this  present.  He  had  meant 
that  Dorothea  Mayfield's  eyes  should  be  the  first  of 
all  who  knew  him  to  look  their  admiration.  But  the 
Judge  had  the  start  of  her.  He  could  not  conceal 
his  admiration,  though  his  face  was  stern  and  most 
unfriendly.  • 

"  Some  time  ago  I  put  in  my  plans  for  the  proposed 
new  grounds  at  the  Navy  Yard  and  Naval  Hospital," 
answered  Horicon.  "  Two  weeks  ago  Governor  Ran- 
dall gave  me  notice.  I  don't  like  grass  to  grow  under 
my  feet.  My  plans  and  maps  being  accepted  in 
Washington,  Mr.  Tracy,  whom  I  used  to  know  up 
in  the  country,  was  pleased  to  be  considerate  beyond 
my  deserts,  and  asked  me  to  take  commission  as 
Supervisory  Architect.  I  rank  as  Captain." 

"  This  is  unexpected,"  resumed  the  attorney 
thoughtfully.  "Pray  be  seated,  Mr.  —  Captain  Hori- 
con. You  should  have  informed  me."  The  Judge 
turned  his  pencil  end  for  end  on  the  desk  in  silence. 
But  his  irresolution  was  not  abiding.  He  very  soon 
compressed  the  square  mouth  decisively,  and  added, 


200  NONE  SUC PI? 

as  if  thinking  aloud,  "  This  might  suit  the  Governor 
just  as  well,  but  not  me.  A  Captain,  is  it?  But 
then  you  can  resign."  He  now  rubbed  his  chin 
square  across. 

"  Resign  ?  "  queried  Horicon  sharply.  "  Why 
should  I  resign  ?  What  right  have  you  to  indicate 
any  steps  for  me  ?  " 

The  Judge  still  turned  the  pencil  end  for  end,  and 
watched  his  own  maneuver,  as  if  he  were  trying  to 
turn  affairs  end  for  end,  —  affairs  that  were  unex- 
pectedly wrong  end  to. 

"  Randall  can  expose  him,  can  make  it  right  with 
the  government."  The  Judge  again  rubbed  his  chin 
squarely. 

"Make  what  right,  Hartley?"  demanded  Horicon 
peremptorily. 

"  Are  you  aware  that  we  contributed  a  clean  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  to  the  campaign  fund  last  elec- 
tion, Mr.  Horicon?  You  can  resign,  you  know,  as 
easily  as  you  accepted.  No  doubt  Governor  Ran- 
dall's influence  "  —  and  again  the  Judge  relapsed 
into  the  silence  of  perplexity. 

Captain  Horicon  reached  for  his  cap,  saying, 
"  Judge  Hartley,  till  you  get  your  mind  clear,  I  will 
wish  you  good-morning." 

"  Mr.  Horicon,  you  can't  go  just  yet." 

"I  can't  go!  What  do  you  mean?"  demanded 
Horicon,  half  turning  on  his  heel  before  the  seated 
attorney. 


THEUE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  201 

"I  mean  just  that,"  was  the  calm  reply.  The 
lawyer's  mind  had  evidently  cleared. 

"  That  I  am  a  prisoner  ?  "  There  was'  gathering 
danger  in  this  tone,  Judge  Hartley,  if  you  noted  it 
wisely. 

"  Well,  no  legal  form  of  arrest.  This  Company 
doesn't  do  things  in  that  way.  But  you  are  in  this 
building.  As  the  legal  officer  of  the  corporation,  I 
simply  detain  you.  That's  the  word  we  use  —  de- 
tain." Hartley  was  pale  when  he  brought  his  fat 
forefinger  down  on  a  sheet  of  paper  on  the  desk  at 
that  word  "  detain."  If  he  had  "  detained  "  other 
persons  from  time  to  time  in  the  employ  of  the  cor- 
poration, they  were  perhaps  not  men  of  this  resolute 
kind. 

"  And  that  I,  having  committed  no  crime,  cannot 
leave  this  building  when  I  will,  going  into  the  public 
streets  ?  " 

The  attorney  lost  more  color,  but  yet  did  not  touch 
the  call-bell. 

"  There  are  difficulties  that  you  would  encounter 
in  attempting  to  leave  the  building,"  he  added  pro- 
vokingly.  "  Here  are  gigantic  corporate  interests. 
The  corporate  interests  are  a  legal  personality,  if  you 
please.  That  personality  regards  no  obstacles  in 
carrying  out  its  necessary  plans.  We  take  the  law 
into  our  own  hands  occasionally,  Mr.  Horicon.  You 
are  an  individual.  This  Corporate  Person  finds  you 


202  NONE  sucn? 

an  obnoxious  individual.  First,  we  detain  —  our 
next  step  is,  we  remove  you.  Understand  ?  "  The 
thumb  now  felt  for  the  call-bell  under  the  desk,  but 
did  not  yet  touch  it. 

"  I  am  no  coward  to  be  frightened  by  threats  of  — 
well  —  for  aught  I  know  —  of  assassination.  What 
care  I  for  your  great  monopoly  ?  "  The  huge  young 
fellow,  for  so  his  righteous  wrath  made  Horicon 
seem,  took  two  strides  to  open  the  door.  It  did  not 
yield  to  his  hand. 

"  Locked,  you  see."  There  was  a  blank  smile  that 
was  hardly  a  smile,  either,  on  the  square  face  of  the 
attorney. 

"  Open  it,  Hartley,  or  I'll  put  a  boot  through  it !  " 

"  Foolish  boy  !  Come,  now,  you  are  an  educated 
man.  Recall  the  days  of  old  Venice.  There,  for 
instance,  was  a  commercial  government  over  a  great 
people.  Human  nature  is  ever  the  same.  Here  is  a 
commercial  government  with  its  capital  in  this  build- 
ing in  distant  America." 

"  So  you  play  the  game  of  the  merchant  tyrants  of 
the  Adriatic.  I  am  in  the  palace  of  a  Yankee  Doge 
of  Venice,  am  I?  I  have  heard  such  infamies  attrib- 
uted to  millionaires  in  my  day,  but  I  believed  them 
slanders.  Miss  Mayfield  has  often  warned  me  that  if 
you  could  not  use  me  you  would  crush  me." 

"  Stick  a  pin  there  !  "  exclaimed  the  Judge,  lean- 
ing forward  in  his  chair,  as  he  pressed  his  finger  hard 


THERE    WILL    YET  J1E   THOUSANDS.          203 

down  on  the  paper.  "  Miss  Mayfield,  ah,  there's  the 
rub.  This  our  extraordinary  machinery  for  dealing 
with  an  obnoxious  individual  is  mostly  used  to  pro- 
tect millions  of  dollars.  Now,  however,  it  will,  with 
said  millions,  also  protect  a  fair  young  girl."  The 
attorney  held  the  papers  to  the  desk  now  with  his 
thumb,  and  leaned  back  in  his  chair  to  stare  at  Hori- 
con  impudently  defiant. 

"  Governor  Randall,  a  New  Englander,  free-born, 
descending  to  sucli  methods  to  protect  his  millions  !  " 
exclaimed  Horicon,  releasing  the  door-knob,  and 
swinging  his  arms  as  if  he  might  pick  up  the 
lawyer,  chair  and  all,  but  in  the  end  folding  them 
across  his  own  breast. 

"  I  claim  the  credit.  Randall  is  behind  the  times, 
except  as  I  keep  him  in  the  swim." 

"  You  gray  old  scoundrel,  I  believe  you ! "  Horicon 
moved  toward  the  lawyer. 

"  Softly,  softly,"  protested  the  Judge.  "  You  must 
disappear.  See?  I  mean,  leave  for  parts  unknown." 

"Open  that  door,  or  I'll  break  it  down  with  your 
head  for  a  battering  ram  !  " 

"Simple  fellow!  You  couldn't  get  to  the  second 
ante-room."  Hartley  grew  bloodless  white  now,  but 
preserved  his  external  calm.  "  Now,  we  will  give 
you  five  thousand  dollars,  and  you  shall  secretly 
leave,  say,  for  Australia."  Hartley  pulled  out  a 
drawer  from  the  safe  at  his  side,  and  held  out  five 


204  NONE  SUCH? 

one  thousand  dollar  bills,  counting,  "  One,  two,  three, 
four,  five;  yes,  right." 

Amazement  and  wrath  held  Horicon  dumb.  For 
one  of  those  impressive  minutes  that  seem  hours  he 
stood  regarding  the  attorney  in  silence.  Then  he 
spoke  in  bitter  derision :  "  You  make  me  laugh." 

"  You  should  weep  to  think  how  near  your  youth- 
ful follies  came  to  wrecking  your  career.  But  in 
Australia  "  — 

Still,  mockingly,  Horicon  snatched  up  the  sentence, 
finishing  it,  "  I  may  begin  life  anew.  This  is  rich, 
old  man.  I  suppose  you  will  provide  me  wings." 

"  The  Melbourne  steamer  is  at  the  dock.  We  own 
the  line  mostly.  No  questions  will  be  asked."  Once 
more,  after  many  such  scenes,  possibly  in  defense  of 
Randall's  millions,  he  was  succeeding,  he  believed. 

"  And  if  I  decline  ?  " 

"  Oh,  come  !  you  will  be  the  first  man  to  decline 
when  we  say  the  word.  Here  are  five  thousand 
dollars  more,"  with  a  tap  of  his  thumb-nail  on  the 
safe,  "that  belong  to  you  when  you  arrive  at  Mel- 
bourne. Two  of  our  men  are  waiting  to  help  you 
on  board." 

Horicon  took  the  money  in  his  hand  —  more  ready 
cash  than  he  had  ever  handled.  He  held  it  up  and 
counted  it  mechanically.  He  asked,  without  betray- 
ing any  final  purpose,  "  Is  this  a  large  sum  of  money, 
Judge  Hartley,  a  very  large  sum  of  money,  say, 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  205 

about  my  price  ?  Or  do  you  consider  it  a  small  sum, 
and  so  measure  me  accordingly  ?  " 

"  Five  thousand  dollars  is  considerable  money, 
young  man ;  then,  you  are  to  add  to  it  five  thousand 
more.  Then,  you  are  to  subtract  the  whole  ten  thou- 
sand —  makes  twenty  thousand  —  if  you  resist  me." 

"Resist  you,  eh?  Then  'it  is  you,  and  not  Gov- 
ernor Randall.  "  You,"  with  an  angry  emphasis  on 
the  pronoun,  "  you  must  go  through  some  arithmetic, 
just  to  please  me,  Judge  Hartley.  What  percentage 
on  a  certain  thirty-five  millions  that  you  have  in 
view  is  ten  thousand  dollars  ?  " 

The  Judge  suddenly  got  his  color.  Like  a  surge 
that  threatened  apoplexy  it  came.  It  must  have 
made  his  square  brow  crack,  for  he  began  rubbing  it 
instead  of  his  chin.  He  got  up  from  his  chair,  and 
so  away  from  his  push  button.  The  two  men,  of 
about  the  same  physical  proportions,  were  now  con- 
fronting one  another. 

"For,  if  it  were  the  whole  thirty-five  millions  in 
this  hand  of  mine,  I  would  do  with  it  all  what  I  do 
with  this."  Horicon  slapped  the  crisp  new  bills  in 
the  lawyer's  face.  He  struck  the  bills  sharply  back 
and  forth  across  the  great  nose,  the  square  brow,  the 
square  cheeks,  and  the  square  mouth  of  the  retreat- 
ing man. 

"Don't  cry  out,"  said  Horicon,  "that  is  all." 
And  he  cast  the  crumpled  bills  on  the  big  table. 


206  NONE  SUCH? 

"You  are  perfectly  safe.  I  am  washing  my  hands, 
not  staining  them.  Only  " 

Captain  Horicon  stepped  to  the  desk  and  secured  a 
nickel-plated  paper-weight  of  steel,  the  pretty  and 
somewhat  formidable  advertisement  of  a  new  process 
of  making  railroad  iron.  "  Only,"  he  continued, 
"  if  you  call  in  any  of  your  porters,  or  other  fel- 
lows hired  to  do  your  rougher  work,  I  shall  defend 
myself." 

What  might  have  happened  is  immaterial.  The 
door  opened  of  its  own  accord,  and  a  clerk  brought 
in  a  telegram.  It  read,  so  it  was  made  plain,  after 
the  astonished  attorney  had  glanced  over  it,  and  then 
handed  it  to  Horicon  :  — 


YORK,  July  —  18  — 
Meet  us  at  Albany  to-morrow.     Have  my  man  Horicon  come 
on.     Invite  him  to  do  this.     If  he  objects,  ask  him  to  do  an  old 
man  this  favor.  H.  RANDALL,. 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  207 


CHAPTER   IX. 

IT  is  more  interesting  than  a  yacht  to  some  people ; 
it  is  more  interesting  than  a  horse  and  carriage  to 
others  ;  it  will  always  assemble  a  knot  of  curious 
spectators  at  a  railway  station  —  a  private  car. 

This  particular  car  stood  on  the  outer  tracks  at  the 
well-known  station  in  Albany.  "  Just  come  up  over 
the  West  Shore,"  explained  one  of  the  yardmen. 
"  Ain't  she.  a  beauty,  though  ?  " 

"  She's  going  over  the  B.  &  A.  to-day.  Golly  !  but 
don't  these  railway  kings  ride  in  shape  ?  "  exclaimed 
another  workingman. 

Her  engine  was  steaming  and  panting  like  some 
fettered  thing  of  life.  Her  driver  sat  in  his  greasy 
drillings  at  the  cab  window,  one  of  those  brightly 
intelligent  and  reliable  faces  which  we  have  all 
noticed,  on  the  watch  for  "his  party"  and  orders. 
Provisions  and  ice  were  being  freshly  deposited,  at 
this  relay,  in  the  cars. 

A  whole  train,  all  somebody's  own,  to  go  where  the 
owner  wills,  over  lands  that  are  near  and  far,  from 
one  city  to  another,  from  mountains  by  the  Western 
ocean  to  hills  by  the  Eastern  ocean,  any  whither,  at 
any  moment,  a  long  restful  flight  under  starlight, 
under  sunlight.  A  private  car,  its  bed  of  luxury,  its, 


208  NONE  SUCH? 

chairs  of  homelike  ease,  its  food  for  the  hungry  made 
ready  on  the  hour  by  your  own  clock,  its  seclusion 
for  the  world  weary,  its  endless  possibility  of  well- 
nigh  the  whole  earth  in.  panorama  to  bate  anew  the 
tired  fancy  of  eyes  that  have  seen  everything,  and 
are  curious  to  rest  on  something  novel  under  the 
sun. 

A  private  car,  your  own,  as  your  residence  is  your 
own ;  even  your  slippers  await  you  by  your  own  dear 
chair.  Your  wardrobe  is  hard  by,  and  favorite  gar- 
ments invite  your  choosing.  Your  dusty  day  will 
end  in  cleanliness,  when  you  have  finished  your 
tramp  about  any  strange  town,  and  have  sought  your 
own  bath  in  your  own  car.  There  is  not  a  favorite 
dish  that  will  not  greet  you  at  the  breakfast  table, 
precisely  as  at  home.  Your  own  servant  will  lay  the 
morning  paper  by  your  plate,  the  same  news  as  at 
home,  thanks  to  the  telegraphic  press,  printed  only 
with  a  changed  name. 

A  private  car  is  the  dream  of  the  flying-machine 
realized  at  last."  At  last  it  gives  its  lucky  owner  all 
the  world,  as  no  ship  can  do,  as  no  steed  can  do,  a 
reverie  made  real.  You  may  snap  your  fingers  at  the 
crowded  hotel  and  its  mean  or  sumptuous  fare.  You 
touch  the  bell-call  and  stop  amid  the  snows  of  the 
Rockies,  saying,  "  Here  we  see  the  grand  peaks  best. 
Side-track  us  here  at  this  little  station."  And  when 
you  wake  before  your  own  chamber  window  as  you  turn 


THEUE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  209 

on  your  pillow,  rise  the  range  of  mountain  splendors 
which  Fremont  toiled  a  starving  year  to  view.  Again 
you  press  the  call-bell,  and  your  dooryard  for  another 
evening  is  the  Golden  Gate,  the  vast  Pacific  shining 
yonder  like  a  sea  of  glass.  You  take  up  your  own 
pen  at  your  own  desk  and  write  about  it ;  or,  better 
still,  you  move  your  best-beloved  friends  bodily  with 
your  moving  residence,  and  shoAV  them  through  your 
own  windows  all  the  wonders  of  this  beautiful  world. 
A  private  car,  and  the  family  need  not  be  sepa- 
rated. There  is  no  agony  of  anxiety  when  otherwise 
you  could  be  so  very  happy  amid  some  scene  of 
nature's  splendors,  asking,  "  I  wonder  how  the  chil- 
dren are,  a  thousand  miles  away,  to-night?"  No»; 
yonder  is  the  children's  room.  Their  very  school- 
room moves  as  you  move.  The  dear  invalid  rests  in 
the  next  room.  There  are  no  heart-strings  stretched 
almost  to  the  snapping.  A  private  car  has  anni- 
hilated the  bitterness  of  farewell  at  last.  There 
need  be  no  such  word  ever  spoken,  if  you  can  add 
yet  another  car  —  and  keep  your  dividends  running. 
You  need  not  sigh,  "  How  much  she  would  enjoy  all 
this  !  I  wish  Mary  were  here,"  for  she  is  here.  A 
private  car  and  again  such  sleep,  with  all  the  air  you 
wish  to  breathe,  with  all  the  soothing  of  a  tireless 
lullaby,  with  all  the  composing  of  an  unwearied 
cradle  roll,  and  then  another  day  new  from  horizon 
to  horizon.  An  endless  procession  of  new  trees  and 


210  NONE  SUCH? 

hills,  new  vales  and  mountains,  new  rivers  and  fall- 
ing waters,  new  hamlets,  villages,  and  cities,  new 
flocks  and  herds,  new  faces  of  men,  troop  ever  past 
your  door,  saluting  you. 

"  That's  Governor  Randall's  car,"  the  people  said. 
"He's  very  rich.  Wait  a  moment  and  you  will  see 
him  and  his  party  come  aboard." 

True  enough.  Here  comes  Dennis  with  his  traps. 
Here  comes  Marcellus  Hartley,  no  paler  than  when 
he  left  home  three  weeks  ago  for  his  flight  of  thou- 
sands of  miles.  The  private  secretary's  arms  are  full 
of  papers  which  he  is  helping  his  father  transport 
from  the  Boston  Express,  just  in.  The  eminent 
Judge  himself  is  engaged  in  the  same  precious  port- 
age. Law  books  and  documents  galore  are  going 
from  one  car  to  another.  The  typewriter  takes  what 
she  can  carry,  patient  soul !  Now  they  are  all  in  the 
private  car.  It  may  become  a  flying  workshop,  a 
prison  on  wheels,  its  windows  as  blank  as  a  back- 
office  windows.  Evidently  Governor  Randall  slaves 
it  precisely  the  same  at  sixty  miles  an  hour  as  when 
at  home. 

The  Governor  appears  weary  as  he  drags  himself 
across  the  grease-smeared  tracks.  No  wonder ;  a 
dozen  other  "  Governors "  are  buttonholing  him  to 
the  very  last.  A  man  may  be  king,  yet  there  are 
other  kings  to  whom  he  must  pay  attention. 

The  king  is  seated  at  last.     He  stretches  out  his 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  211 

long  legs  with  a  sigh  of  relief,  but  asks  with  a 
quick  turn  of  his  head,  "Is  Horicon  here  with  you 
fellows  ?  " 

"Yes.  Good-afternoon,  Governor  Randall.  I  am 
here.  I  hope  you  are  well."  Charley  Horicon  has 
entered  the  door  in  time  to  say  it,  and  stands  in 
his  blue  and  gold,  a  vision  of  surprise  before  the 
questioner. 

The  Governor  surrendered  his  left  hand  cordially 
enough  without  getting  out  of  his  rocking-chair. 
Holding  Horicon's  hand,  he  addresses  whomever  is 
near  enough  to  hear,  though  really  speaking  his 
thoughts  for  his  own  ears  :  — 

"By  George!  Smart,  ain't  he?  How  much  he 
looks  like  my  Rob  in  his  uniform !  Hi !  how  it 
grips  !  "  with  his  right  hand  to  his  side.  "  A  naval 
officer  ought  to  be  rich,  young  man.  They  tell  me 
that's  what  you  now  are.  Otherwise  it's  a  dog's  life. 
Any  first-class  dry-goods  clerk  beats  you  on  pay." 

"  Of  course,  that's  my  affair,"  answered  Horicon. 
"You  wanted  to  see  me,  the  telegram  said." 

"  Yes.  Sit  down,  please.  Ride  to  Boston  with  me. 
Keep  in  there,  Hartley,  both  of  you."  This  to  the 
elder  Hartley,  loitering  in  the  apartment,  though 
Marcellus  takes  his  share  of  the  order,  and  passes  on 
through  the  room  where  Horicon  and  the  Governor 
are  seated. 

"  Pull  her  out,  Sam,"  is  the  Governor's  next  breath 
to  the  conductor.  "  Let  her  spin,  boy." 


212  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Right  of  way  not  yet  given,  sir.  Shall  I  run 
sixty  when  we  get  the  start  ?  " 

"  Yes,  seventy  for  all  I  care.  D'ye  often  ride  sixty 
miles  an  hour,  Captain  Horicon  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Randall,  you  have  taken  it  for  granted  that 
I  could  spare  the  time  to  come  on  here.  But  you  are 
an  old  gentleman,  and  have  vast  affairs  and  the  right 
to  be  indulged.  Still,  sir,  allow  me  to  say  that  I 
have  no  occasion,  on  my  part,  for  a  lengthy  interview 
with  you." 

The  Governor  did  not  resent  the  reply.  "Light 
with  me  ?  "  he  asked,  taking  a  cigar,  which  with  some 
reluctance  to  further  risk  offense  and  with  faultless 
respect  the  young  officer  declined. 

"Now,  Horicon,  you're  mad  with  me,  because  I 
was  fool  enough  for  a  moment  to  want  your  girl.  I've 
got  over  that.  Old  John  Clarkson  helped  me  with 
his  horse  sense.  I  love  her  too  well  to  see  her  made 
unhappy.  Catch  on  ?  " 

"  That's  a  speech  worthy  of  a  man  who  has  been 
Governor  of  a  great  State,  and  is  crowding  hard  on  to 
a  century,"  responded  Horicon  heartily. 

"  Now,  now,  my  dear  fellow,  you'd  be  surprised  if 
I  should  tell  you  that  four  months  ago  I  had  this  car 
made  for  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  understand  you." 

"  Yes,"  the  Governor  went  on  deliberately ;  " '  twas 
to  be  your'n  to  travel  the  continent  over.  Dennis  !  " 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  213 

"Yis,  sorr."  Dennis  was  bending  over  the  chair 
instantly. 

"  Tear  off  them  fixin's." 

Following  the  pointing  hand,  Dennis  stepped  to  the 
end  of  the  compartment,  removing  the  drapery  that 
had  been  tacked  over  a  mirror,  revealing  the  words 

"THE   HORICON" 

• 

handsomely  blazoned  on  the  glass. 

Captain  Horicon  sat  nonplussed  before  the  wide 
panneled  mirror  that  revealed  himself  and  the  Gov- 
ernor, amid  the  flitting  green  and  blue  of  forest  and 
distant  landscape,  through  which  they  were  now 
flying. 

"  And  at  that  time  I  intended  you  to  have  money 
enough  to  support  the  style,"  the  Governor  contin- 
ued, as  he  sat  watching  effects  on  the  reflected  coun- 
tenance of  the  young  man. 

"  Heavens,  man  !  why  should  you  give  me  money  ?  " 

"  Because  at  that  time  I  thought  you  would  make 
good  use  of  it." 

"  That  time  ?  Does  that  imply  that  I  have  deteri- 
orated in  character  ?  But,  sir,  no  man  can  give  me 
money.  I  am  not  looking  for  presents." 

"  '  Twas  a  will,  my  fine  chap." 

"  Such  a  will  would  have  been  a  mere  spider's  web 
before  Squire  Hartley's  walking-stick."  Captain 


214  NONE  SUCH? 

Horicon  was  now  looking  away  from  the  mirrored 
Governor,  and  straight  into  the  eyes  of  the  living 
man. 

"  Hartley  ?  "  asked  Governor  Randall,  "  Cuss 
him !  "  shaking  a  fist  towards  the  door.  "  I'd  like  to 
see  Hartley,  or  any  other  man,  break  a  will  of  mine." 

Captain  Horicon  laughed  in  spite  of  himself.  "  But, 
sir,  men  are  not  on  the  ground  to  see  their  wills 
broken.  However,  you  please  me  most  when  you  tell 
me  this  is  a  thing  of  the  past;"  and  he  began  twirling 
his  cap  between  his  knees. 

"  Please  ye  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  strange  as  it  may  seem.     For  though  I  - 
surely  would  have  fought  that  lawyer,  if  the  will 
were  a  fact,  after  your  death,  yet,  of  course,  no  self- 
respecting  young  fellow  would  consent   to   such   a 
gift,  if  he  were  previously  consulted." 

"  By  George !  Is  it  possible  any  man  feels  like 
this  nowadays  ?  He's  got  Rob's  spirit  and  my  own. 
Can  old  Hartley  be  wrong  ?  "  Then  directly  to  Cap- 
tain Horicon  :  "  Why  not  ?  You  bet  the  woods  are 
full  of  'em  that  would." 

"Governor  Randall,  you  don't  understand  me.  I 
want  nothing  that  I  do  not  earn.  I  have  not  and 
could  not  do  anything  to  earn  all  this.  I  don't  wor- 
ship your  money,  nor  envy  you  it.  However,  were 
it  not  for  two  things  I  would  thank  you  for  your 
momentary  kind  purpose  concerning  my  future.  As 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  215 

it  is,  I'll  ask  you  to  let  me  bid  you  a  good-night,  and 
I'll  leave  you  to  your  own  thoughts." 

"Wait.  This  is  the  only  car.  Name  the  two 
things." 

"  First,  I  believe  you  tried  to  prevent  my  success 
in  life  at  the  Navy  Yard  this  very  week." 

"  Well,  if  I  did  I  failed,  eh  ?     Name  the  other." 

"  You  have  just  now  intimated  that  I  am  a  less 
worthy  man  than  when  you  employed  me  as  gardener 
five  months  ago,  and  when  presumably  you  fixed  up 
this  fine  dream  for  me  in  a  will." 

"  Horicon,  if  I'd  have  given  you  these  millions,  you 
would  have  earned  them  taking  care  of  them !  My 
millions  are  the  organ,  and  I'm  the  monkey.  Any 
man  is  who  owns  them.  And,  besides,  I  had  a  dream 
that  you  should  disburse  them,  helping  a  hundred 
young  folks  a  year  to  get  on  their  feet,  as  the  pretty 
woman  said  you  liked  to  do,  —  as  you  yourself  said 
you  would  do,  if  you  were  rich,  in  that  speech  —  one 
hundred  a  year,  a  thousand  in  ten  years,  say,  even 
twenty  thousand  young  men  in  fifty  years,  set  on 
their  feet." 

"Who?" 

"  Why,  the  Jim  Lamoiles,  young  butchers  and 
bakers  and  candlestick-makers.  I  thought  you  would 
know  who  was  deserving.  I  guess  you  would,  accord- 
ing to  what  Miss  Mayfield  says  you  are  doing  all  the 
while.  A  thousand  dollars  to  a  smart  young  fellow 


216  NONE  SUCH? 

of  hoss  sense  just  in  the  nick  of  time !  Make  that 
your  business  on  the  footstool.  Find  him  every- 
where, from  Maine  to  California,  each  of  the  twenty 
thousand  the  head  of  a  happy  home,  say,  of  three 
children  and  a  wife.  Four  times  twenty  thousand 
equals  eighty  thousand.  Then  the  better  start  of  the 
next  generation.  By  George,  as  a  happiness  mill  it 
beats  the  colleges  and  hospitals  and  libraries  and  parks 
all  to  thunder!  "  The  Governor  struck  his  own  knee 
with  a  resounding  slap,  hammering  out  the  words. 

"  Why  haven't  you  done  this  benevolent  work  in 
your  life  ?  "  exclaimed  Horicon,  greatly  impressed. 

"  Because  I've  been  too  dem  selfish !  And  it's 
easier  to  throw  millions  in  a  lump  to  a  college  than 
'tis  to  go  hunting  to  find  a  deserving  young  man  writh 
a  sensible  wife  that  money  wouldn't  spoil.  Because 
I  have  helped  young  men  in  my  younger  days  occa^ 
sionally,  and  got  a  kick  for  my  thanks.  Not  that  I'm 
hungry  for  thanks,  but  I'm  human ;  and  I  do  hate  to 
have  a  fellow  turn  against  me  because,  having  helped 
him  once,  twice,  and  three  times,  I  would  not  help 
him  the  fourth  time.  That's  why.  Because  the 
majority  of  young  men  are  lunkheads.  They  ain't 
worth  helping.  To  help  such  fellows  is  to  throw 
your  money  away,  and  worse.  They'll  impose  on 
you,  sure's  j^ou're  alive,  the  fools  !  Because  to  find 
the  right  man  is  a  hunt.  But  when  you  find  him,  oh, 
it  is  such  a  pleasure  to  help  him  help  himself !  By 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  217 

George,  it's  the  greatest  happiness  in  the  world,  sir ! 
You  see,  such  a  man  keeps  it  to  himself,  except  he 
tells  his  children  that  you  are  a  noble  man  and  asks 
them  to  pray  God  to  bless  you.  But  it  don't  get 
into  the  newspapers.  So,  sir,  you  don't  find  yourself 
on  a  list,  and  your  mail  the  next  morning  a  cartload 
of  begging  letters.  You  ask  a  rich  man  like  me  why 
he  hasn't  helped  individuals  more?  Why,  Captain 
Horicon,  you  don't  know  the  facts.  We  did  begin 
that  way,  helping  old  friends,  till  we  hadn't  a  friend 
left.  We  did  begin  that  way  till  the  cussed  mean- 
ness of  human  nature  disgusted  us,  we  were  so  kicked 
and  imposed  on,  and  snared  and  tricked  with  lying 
tales,  that  we  had  no  patience  nor  sweet  temper  left, 
not  being  infinitely  good  like  the  Almighty." 

Springing  from  his  chair,  greatly  moved,  Horicon 
exclaimed,  "  That  is — is  sublime,  your  plan  !  If  you 
had  judged  me  unworthy  of  such  a  life  errand,  I 
should  not  have  quarreled  with  you.  It  would  take 
a  good  and  wise  man's  lifetime.  But  it  would  be , 
wonderfully  grand,  your  arithmetic." 

"  That'd  be  a  new  line.  There  ain't  many  in  the 
business,"  said  the  Governor,  laughing.  "  Another 
reason  why  we  rich  men  do  not  attend  to  this  our- 
selves is  that  we  naturally  get  afraid  of  men.  Every 
chap  has  an  ax  to  grind.  We  hate  to  be  pitched  on 
with  a  story  that  moves  our  sympathies,  and  we  have 
to  resist  and  brace  ourselves  if  the  man  or  woman 


218  NONE  SUCH? 

actually  gets  'at  us  to  tell  this  story.  It  makes  too 
hard  a  draft  on  the  nerves,  my  boy.  But  I  thought 
you  were  young  and  strong  and  patient,  by  George ! 
and  I  knew  she  was.  I  thought,  as  you  were  born 
poor  yourself,  you'd  know  how  it  was  yourself.  I 
knew  your  father  was  a  good  man,  and  taught  you  to 
look  to  God  to  guide  you.  And,  by  George !  I  hoped 
you  hadn't  forgot  it.  You'd  need  the  Almighty's 
own  wisdom.  Just  think  on't.  One  by  one,  spending 
thousands  on  thousands  to  help  wisely  one  by  one  to 
help  himself.''' 

The  old  man  whirled  his  chair  away  from  the  young 
one  with  a  look  of  hopelessness  on  his  face  that  it  is 
impossible  to  describe.  He  gazed  out  upon  the  fly- 
ing landscape  of  the  Berkshire  hills  as  the  little  train 
thundered  on  its  terrific  pace,  and  he  seemed  impa- 
tient that  even  that  tremendous  speed  could  not  be 
accelerated.  So  does  a  troubled  mind  treat  a  private 
car,  as  when  one  paces  a  room.  Horicon  could  not 
pace  the  car.  He  had  been  thrown  into  an  opposite 
seat  as  soon  as  he  rose  to  his  feet.  Some  minutes 
"passed  till  at  length  Captain  Horicon  came  over  and 
kindly  touching  the  rich  man  on  his  knee,  said, — 

"But  you  rejected  me  on  other  grounds  than  those 
of  capacity." 

"  Yes ;  a  man  who  can  be  false  to  a  woman  will  be 
false  to  other  men,  sure."  The  words  came  bluntly 
and  were  hard  to  hear. 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.          219 

"Sir,  this  is  outrageous  here  in  your  own  car." 
The  blood  seemed  bursting  from  Horicon's  cheeks 
and  ears. 

"Horicon,  you  are  a  trump  in  spots.  Dorothea 
loves  you.  At  least  stick  to  her.  By  George,  I  hum- 
ble myself  to  plead  with  you.  You're  too  good  in 
spots  to  go  to  ruin  altogether.  Let  this  other  young 
flirt  and  her  ambitions,  and  all  this  gallivanting  alone. 
If  you'll  swear  to  do  that,  I'll  let  you  alone  at  least. 
But  if  you  don't,  why,  as  if  I  was  her  father,  I'll 
break  you,  even  at  the  Navy  Yard,  I  swear !  "  The 
old  man  actually  shook  his  fist  in  the  Captain's 
face. 

What  could  one  reply  to  that  ?  What  escape  was 
there  from  the  temptation  of  one's  righteous  wrath? 
Horicon  well  knew  that  the  Governor's  manner 
towards  him  was  not  different  from  that  he  often 
held,  this  autocrat,  towards  all  men  in  business  and 
in  controversy.  Great  wealth  often  makes  men  im- 
pudent, because  imperiously  independent.  There  is 
but  one  consolation  as  you  suffer  under  it.  You  may 
assure  yourself  that  there  is  always  some  one  richer 
before  whom  your  man  must  humble  himself  in  turn. 
If  not  before  some  one,  then  before  many,  an  angered 
state,  a  panic-stricken  market,  a  blighted  harvest,  or 
some  act  of  God.  We  all  have  our  master. 

"  Governor,"  at  length  Captain  Horicon  had  col- 
lected his  thoughts  enough  to  reply,  "  there  is  some 


220  NONE  SUCH? 

wretched  mistake  about  all  this.  My  love  and  loy- 
alty to  that  sweet  playmate  of  my  boyhood  " 

"  There  can  be  no  mistake.  Did  I  not  see  enough 
myself  before  I  left  home  ?  Did  not  Miss  Sampson 
write  her  father  that  she  had  broken  off  her  engage- 
ment with  young  Hartley,  and  the  old  man  Sampson 
come  to  inquire  of  me  what  I  thought  of  you  as  a 
young  man?  " 

"And  you,  my  dear  sir,  so  wise  in  everything  else, 
have  been  foolishly  led  astray,  when  attempting  to 
track  young  people's  love  affairs."  Horicon  was  very 
indulgent  and  courteous  in  speaking  this.  His  anger 
was  rapidly  transferring  itself  to  other  quarters. 

"  Foolishly  led  astray,  d'ye  say  ?  I've  given  my 
best  wits  to  this  matter.  You  were  my  investment. 
You  were  to  be  my  son.  I've  got  to  do  something 
with  all  this  money.  I  sha'n't  last  long,  as  I  feel 
to-night.  Dorothea  Mayfield,  I'll  take  care  of  her, 
though." 

Captain  Horicon  did  not  dare  trust  himself  for 
further  conversation.  He  rose  to  his  feet  and  said,  — 

"  I'm  sure,  Governor  Randall,  you  must  want  your 
attorney  and  secretary  and  type-writer  in  here.  Let 
me  exchange  rooms  with  them." 

"  Yes,  it's  time  I  was  at  work.  Marcellus,  come  in 
and  bring  the  Judge.  Tell  'em,  Dennis." 

At  sixty  miles  an  hour  till  bedtime  the  rich  slave 
toiled  on,  keeping  the  three  other  minds  busy.  The 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  221 

special  ran  all  night.  It  was  as  they  were  stepping 
from  the  car  at  home  the  next  forenoon  that  Governor 
Randall  next  saw  Captain  Horicon,  and  said,  — 

"By  the  way,  Captain,  if  I  should  send  for  you, 
would  you  come  up  to  my  office  some  time  within  a 
day  or  two?  " 

Captain  Horicon  hesitated,  hut  he  gave  the  old 
man  his  hand,  though  in  silence.  There  they  stood 
for  a  moment,  youth  and  age.  Then  the  youiig  man 
turned  away  with  something  to  think  of,  you  may  be 
sure,  take  it  all  in  all. 

As  for  the  master  of  millions,  so  had  he  some- 
thing to  think  of,  it  is  evident,  though  the  idle  envi- 
ous do  not,  as  a  rule,  well  appreciate  what  the  care 
of  millions  of  money  means.  Scarcely  had  Governor 
Randall  turned  about  when  he  caught  sight  of  the 
favorite  gray  mare  hitched  to  the  spider  skeleton  with 
the  maroon  running-gear.  Mike,  the  groom,  stood 
at  her  head  at  the  edge  of  the  platform.  Stepping 
up  to  the  animal,  her  owner  gave  her  a  few  love  pats 
on  the  swelling  neck,  threw  back  her  blanket  and  felt 
her  ribs,  and  then  said,  "  Mike,  she  looks  well.  Be 
careful  how  she  stands  in  this  chill  east  wind. 
Always  blanket  quick  when  you  stop.  I  can't  take 
her  home.  Too  busy  till  night.  Drive  in  for  me 
about  six  o'clock.  Ah,  you  pretty  mare!"  and  he 
smoothed  her  nose.  "  I  guess  you  are  more  glad  to 
see  me  than  any  one  else  about  Glen  Theron." 


222  NONE   SUCHf 

The  walk  over  to  the  magnificent  new  pile  of 
"  The  Randall  Block,"  where  his  offices  were  located, 
was  short.  One  of  these  modern  business  palaces 
suggests  thought.  The  Rhine  castles  and  Feudal- 
towns  now  in  ruins  all  over  Europe  belong  to  the 
old  dynasty  of  the  human  king.  The  marble  palace 
of  the  great  city  where  millions  of  dollars  hold  court 
belongs  to  the  new  kings.  The  cathedral  to  God  is 
now  rarely  built,  and  that  grudgingly.  The  cathe- 
dral to  the  worship  of  the  modern  god,  Gold,  the 
cathedral  of  St.  Mammon,  is  common  enough.  It 
aspires  to  heaven,  story  after  story.  The  combined 
cost  of  these  late  cathedrals  for  the  adoration  of 
wealth  in  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and 
Chicago  far  exceeds  the  cost  of  the  old  St.  Peters 
at  Rome,  which  broke  the  back  of  the  church  to 
build,  and  caused  the  Lutheran  Reformation.  Such 
shining  stones  in  the  noble  atrium,  such  fretted  splen- 
dors overhead,  the  like  of  which  King  Solomon  in  all 
his  glory  never  walked  beneath,  such  elaborate  de- 
signs of  H.  and  R.  entwined  in  the  filagree  of  the 
elevator  guards  !  Everywhere  is  R.,  on  newel  post 
and  balustrade,  in  bronze,  in  marble,  in  color.  R., 
mark  you,  not  the  imperial  N.  that  martial  Napoleon 
once  wrote  everywhere  on  France.  A  greater  than 
Napoleon  is  now  here.  Such  woven  stuff  to  muffle 
the  tread  of  weary  feet  of  the  "heavy  men,"  such 
carvings  of  quartered  oak  to  make  the  council  table 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  223 

of  the  nineteenth  century  star  chamber,  or  fashion  the 
throne  of  the  monarch  who  owns  all. 

Here,  through  this  door,  beneath  the  awful  word 
President  on  the  glass  above,  will  pass  Hezekiah 
Randall,  born  in  a  log  cabin  of  Aroostook  County, 
Me.,  a  few  years  ago.  He  halts  while  Dennis  pro- 
duces the  key.  He  halts,  too,  because  the  ante-room 
of  power  is  full  of  devotees.  He  must  stumble  past 
them,  answering  their  — 

"  I  say,  Governor." 

"  Good-morning,  Randall." 

"A  minute,  Mr.  President." 

"I  say,  Ki,  old  friend." 

For  each  man  himself  a  millionaire,  that  is,  belong- 
ing to  the  aristocracy  and  privileged,  stands,  pushes, 
crowds,  silk  hats  held  high  in  one  hand,  and  a  fringe 
of  right  hands  in  eager  proffer. 

Dennis  elbows  and  jumps  over  all  impediments,  his 
arms  full  of  the  Governor's  traveling  rugs  and  larger 
satchels,  his  hand  pushing  out  the  mighty  key.  He 
opens  the  door.  He  pulls  his  master  in.  He  ex- 
claims as  the  door  slams  in  many  faces,  — 

"  Faith,  Governor  Randall,  they're  thicker  than 
bumble-bees  round  the  most  gorgeousest  sunflower 
this  morning." 

Throwing  off  his  coat,  lighting  his  cigar,  and  back- 
ing up  to  the  sparkling  grate  to  warm  his  coat-tails, 
this  summer  morning,  damp  with  fogs  and  east  wind  : 


224  NONE  SUCH? 

'•The  chills  get  in  my  bones,"  exclaims  the  rich  man, 
and  he  coughs.  "  Hi,  how  it  grips  !  "  He  claps  his 
hand  to  his  breast  and  side.  "  So  Horicon  is  a  rake 
like  all  the  rest,  eh  ?  I'll  save  her  from  him,  as  if  she 
were  my  own  daughter.  My  daughter  ?  Yes ;  that's 
hoss  sense."  So  we  see  he  is  still  harping  on  "  my 
daughter." 

Young  Hartley,  private  secretary,  silently  enters 
with  a  card.  The  ante-room,  he  represents,  is  filling 
up  with  callers.  The  rich  man  has  been  absent  over 
two  weeks.  Men  all  in  a  row,  rich  and  poor,  silk 
hats  and  old  caps  in  hand,  they  stand  out  there,  wait- 
ing to  send  in  their  cards  or  verbal  names.  Randall 
takes  the  card  from  his  secretary  listlessly,  stands 
idly  smoking,  warming  his  coat-tails  and  in  solilo- 
quizing mood.  Can  one  man  see  everybody? 

"  By  the  way,  Marcellus,"  the  Governor  remarks, 
"  I  expect  Mrs.  Mayfield  and  her  daughter.  Get 
them  in  at  the  private  door."  Then  he  thinks  out 
loud,  saying,  "  I'm  worn  out.  These  long  trips  hurt 
me,  especially  two  days  fighting  in  New  York.  But, 
by  George,  the  old  man  beat  them  all  once  more,  Den- 
nis !  "  One  must  exult  to  some  ear,  and  Dennis  is 
trusty. 

"  Yis,  sorr,  you're  a  gigantic  whole,  Governor. 
You've  got  what  my  brother,  the  veterinary  doctor, 
calls  a  solar  system,  sure."  Then  the  man  seems  to 
understand  that  he  too  can  go. 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.          225 

"  What  is  so  lonely  as  a  rich,  childless  old  man  !  " 
soliloquizes  the  Governor.  "  Hear  the  scrambling 
after  me  out  there,  like  rats  after  old  cheese." 
Turning  his  head  to  talk  towards  the  closed  door, 
he  apostrophizes  them :  "  Why  don't  you  go  to  work 
and  make  ?  That's  what  I  did,  and  could  again  in 
six  months  if  I  was  left  poor  to-day." 

Secretary  Marcellus  enters  again  with  a  card. 
Randall  reads  :  '•  Senator  Stanley.  Humph  !  That 
means  the  State  library."  He  tosses  the  card  lightly 
on  the  table  without  bidding  the  visitor  enter,  and 
goes  on  with  his  talk  to  the  air:  "Let  senators  wait. 
We  own  them,  for  we  make  them.  A  rich,  sick  old 
man  !  Not  a  soul  cares  for  me.  It's  the  millions. 
Every  one  of  us  rich  men  knows  it.  Horicon,"  apos- 
trophizing the  imaginary  presence  of  that  young  man, 
yet  in  doing  it,  stepping  over  to  confront  the  portrait 
of  his  son  Robert,  "  you  resemble  him  so  ! " 

The  secretary  with  another  card  appears. 

"  The  Mayor,"  the  Governor  growls.  "  That's  about 
the  memorial  water-works  to  my  son."  He  throws 
this  card  also  on  the  table.  "  Tell  them  all,  Marcel- 
lus, it's  Directors'  Meeting  at  one  o'clock,  and  I  can't 
see  any  callers." 

The  secretary  is  troubled ;  he  has  another  card  in 
his  hand  and  some  papers.  "  But,  Governor,  you 
were  to  meet  the  president,  secretary,  and  treasurer 
of  the Trust  to-day.  They  offer  "  — 


226  NONE  SUCH? 

"They  offer  everything  and  pay  nothing,  by 
George!  I'm  not  in  for  making  more  money.  See 
them  in  an  hour/'  Yet  he  will  not.  What  else 
should  the  secretary  do  but  go  and  make  what  peace 
he  can  ? 

The  Governor  is  talking  to  the  portrait :  "  Boy, 
why  did  you  lead  that  charge  ?  In  your  dear  face  I 
see  a  better  than  myself." 

There  was  in  the  alcove  of  his  desk  a  smaller  pho- 
tograph of  Mrs.  Randall,  standing  on  a  neat  frame. 
The  Governor  possessed  himself  of  it,  and  began  ad- 
dressing it :  "  Anna,  they  call  the  old  man  a  Money 
Bags,  harsh  and  hard.  You  never  found  him  so. 
No,  no,  there  shall  never  come  another  in  your 
place.  The  old  man's  coming  to  you,  rather." 

In  no  mood  for  work,  Governor  Randall  stepped  to 
the  doors  and  locked  them.  "  What  ails  me  ?  It 
was  a  hard  day  in  New  York  yesterday.  They  all 
hopped  on  me  so.  But  I  beat  'em.  By  George,  I 
was  on  top  when  I  left  'em  !  I'm  not  fit  for  night 
rides,  either,  as  I  once  was.  No,  that's  not  it. 
Anna,  Robert,  Anna,  you  know."  He  fingers  a  thin 
worn  ring  which  he  wears  on  his  left  hand.  "  It  was 
five  and  fifty  years  ago  to-day  we  were  married.  By 
George,  I'm  all  unnerved !  " 

Why  not  a  millionaire  with  a  human  heart  in  his 
breast,  gentlemen,  Walking  Delegates,  Grand  Mas- 
ters, and  Social  Reformers,  all  ?  Why  not  the  loves 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  227 

and  griefs  of  life,  the  sensibilities  of  a  great  nature, 
for  such  men  are  great  in  everything  else  ?  Feelings 
to  be  wounded,  dreams  of  a  right  good  happiness 
broken  and  vanished  away  ?  Is  it  any  evidence  that 
such  humanities  are  not,  because  these  strong  men 
hide  their  hearts  from  you  ? 

There  came  a  rap  on  the  private  door.  Governor 
Randall  may  have  wiped  away  a  few  tears.  If  so,  lie 
was  the  better  for  them,  though  he  said,  "About 
dried  up  at  the  fountain,"  and  hastened  to  open  the 
door  to  Mrs.  Mayfield  and  Dorothea,  whom  he 
expected,  saying  graciously,— 

"  Very  kind,  ladies  ;  something  important.  Been 
South  and  in  New  York  for  two  weeks.  I  owe  you 
an  apology,  my  dear  Miss  Mayfield.  Forgive  a  too 
soft  old  heart."  He  took  her  hand. 

"  Heaven  bless  you,  sir  !  Your  words  are  a  burst 
of  sunshine.  Mamma,  dear,  am  I  not  right?"  said 
the  girl. 

But  the  mother  instantly  reproved  her  with, 
"  Unfortunate  child  !  Dear  Mr.  Randall,  have  you 
heard  "- 

"  Mamma  !  "     The  brown  eyes  flashed. 

"  Yes,  Miss  Mayfield,"  continued  the  old  gentle- 
man kindly.  "  Dorothea,  my  child,  may  I  not  say  ?  I 
have  sent  for  you  to  beg  the  humble  privilege  of  pro- 
tecting you,  and  providing  for  you,  and,  I  may  say, 
avenging  you,  as  if  3^011  were  my  own  daughter." 


228  NONE  SUCH? 

"  For  your  friendship  we  bless  you  always,  always," 
responded  Dorothea  fervently.  "  Yes,  as  my  father's 
love  I  would  welcome  yours.  But,  Governor,  you 
say  '  avenging  me  !  ' 

"  Dorothea,  do  not  drive  me  distracted !  "  protested 
the  mother,  sinking  into  a  chair. 

"  Child,  listen  to  an  old  man,"  the  Governor  went 
on,  still  holding  Dorothea's  hand.  "  I,  too,  was  fond 
of  Horicon.  My  idea  was  that  Charles  Horicon 
should  live  my  life  over  again,  free  of  the  frets  that 
have  worn  me  out.  He  should  walk  under  the  oaks 
of  Glen  Theron,  his  servants  and  dogs  at  his  heels, 
his  hunters  in  the  stables,  and  keep  those  white 
gables  for  his  children's  children,  like  the  English 
lords  I  see  in  Sussex  when  I  go  to  England.  My 
ancestors  came  from  Sussex.  I  wanted  to  prove  to 
the  uttermost  just  once  in  this  sad  world  the  full 
power  of  great  wealth  to  make  one  man  happy." 

"  What  a  beautiful  dream ! "  exclaimed  widow 
Mayfield.  "Did  you  say  Charley  was  to  have  all 
this?" 

"  And  my  sweet  girl,  "  continued  the  rich  man. 
"  Youth  was  fitted  to  youth.  I  was  glad  when  I 
thought  I  saw  he  loved  you,  because  I  loved  you. 
Now,  don't  jump.  I  loved  you  as  an  old  man  with  a 
bit  of  hoss  sense  might  love  you.  Clarkson  knocked 
the  nonsense  out  of  me.  Do  you  remember,  too, 
about  Horicon's  kindness  to  Jim  Lamoile,  and  what 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.          229 

you  said  Horicon  said  about  my  money,  and  seeking 
out  young  fellows  and  making  it  the  business  of  his 
life  to  help  them  on  their  feet  ?  " 

"  I  certainly  remember,  sir.  He  has  said  it  a 
hundred  times,"  answered  the  girl. 

"  By  George,  it  pleased  me  !  Yes.  Sit  down,  Mrs. 
Mayfield.  You  sit,  my  daughter."  He  still  was  hold- 
ing her  hand  and  offered  to  lead  her  to  a  chair. 
"  No  ?  You're  nervous,  like  me  ?  Then  we'll  stand. 
You  see,  it's  tough  as  a  pine  knot  to  know  how  to 
dispose  of  my  money.  They're  driving  me  mad, 
advising  me.  So  I  thought  of  him,  Horicon,  and  you, 
once  more,  especially  after  I  myself  heard  his  grand 
speech  at  Harmony  Hall.  It's  not  altogether  an  un- 
selfish idea  with  me.  I'd  like  to  live  because  I  can 
live  a  big  life.  I've  showed  it.  I'd  like  to  stay  here 
and  fight.  I  always  liked  wrestling.  But  I  know  I 
can't  stay  long.  Now,  my  own  boy,  he's  gone.  Then 
I  thought  of  a  chap  to  take  my  money  and  be  me 
over  again,  as  my  boy  would  had  he  lived,  —  me  kind 
of  smoothed  and  sandpapered  and  varnished,  with 
leisure  to  enjoy  the  world,  and  making  a  smoother 
way  through  the  world  for  lots  of  others,  like  my 
boy." 

Dorothea  sits  down,  yet  eloquently  regarding  him. 
"  Governor  Randall,  what  are  you  ?  You  are  like  — 
like  Kearsarge  Mountain,  sometimes  so  fair,  so  grand, 
then  so  stormy,  rough." 


230  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Me  ?  Oh,  I'm  mostly  an  old  work-hoss,  the  col- 
lege men  say,  fit  for  nothing  but  to  make  money." 
But  a  softer  light  for  a  moment  shining  in  his  blue 
eyes  revealed  his  gratification  that  she  read  him  so 
sympathetically.  "  But  then  I  learned  of  Horicon's 
tomfoolery  with  pretty  Miss  Sampson,  the  reformer 
with  all  her  notions,  new  improvements  on  the  old 
Bible.  By  George  ! " 

"  Governor  Randall,  she  is  a  designing  woman !  I 
will  not  listen  to  one  word  against  Charley.  He  is  as 
true  as  heaven's  own  light."  She  thought  she  knew. 

"  Oh,  be  advised  !"  pleaded  her  mother.  "  Let  the 
dear  old  man  who  knows  the  wicked  world  direct 
you  like  a  daughter." 

"Yes,  ma'am,  I  do  know  the  wicked  world. 
Young  men  are  scamps,  most  of  them.  No  doubt 
Hartley  is  correct." 

"  Squire  Hartley  ?  "  Dorothea  Mayfield  flamed  at 
him  now.  "  Governor  Randall,  you  need  defending 
from  that  old  man.  But  I  must  go.  I  can't  stay  to 
hear  you  misjudge  Charley  Horicon." 

"  Stay,  I  pray  you,"  exclaimed  the  millionaire, 
for  she  was  sweeping  away  from  him.  "  Hartley  ? 
There's  his  door,  old  rat !  I  was  telling  you.  I 
shall  burn  the  Horicon  will,  but,  by  George,  I'll  make 
a  new  one.  I'll  scatter  this  wealth  in  a  hundred 
ways — an  Old  Man's  Home,  an  Old  Woman's 
Home,  a  Memorial  Park,  a  handful  here  and  there 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  231 

and  everywhere,  and  I  don't  care  where.  But  I'll 
provide  an  annuity  to  you  and  your  mother,  and 
you'll  find  some  good  man  and  be  happy." 

"  Leave  me  out,  Governor,"  she  cried  in  splendid 
defiance  of  his  will.  "  Why,  I  would  no  more  in- 
herit, nor  allow  my  Charley  to  inherit,  with  that  law- 
yer setting  us  all  by  the  ears  to  break  the  will "  — 

"  Child,  I'll  make  him  draw  it  so  he  himself 
couldn't  break  it." 

"  Mamma,  will  you  go  with  me  ?  "  fairly  demanded 
Dorothea.  "  Governor  Randall,  I  shall  not  want 
your  money.  My  husband  will  earn  all  I  need. 
Come,  mamma  dear." 

"  Dorothea,  you  are  crazy.  No,  I  will  not  go  with 
you,"  sobbed  the  broken  lady.  "  On  your  peril  do 
not  reject  this  powerful  patron's  care  of  us." 

Then  with  another  change  of  front,  girl  fashion, 
Dorothea,  with  her  hand  on  the  door,  pleaded :  "  Gov- 
ernor Randall,  in  Heaven's  name  I  pray  you  forget 
me.  Oh,  Heaven,  help  me  with  my  mother.  Mamma, 
a  child  should  ever  be  a  child.  I  say  here  that  I  will 
not  marry  with  your  mind  as  it  has  been  for  the  past 
two  weeks.  Even  a  foolish  mother's  frown  upon  her 
wedding-day  what  dutiful  daughter  could  endure  ? 
But  I  will  never  take  this  poor  old  man's  money, 
the  price  of  a  cruel  blunder.  Think  of  it,  mamma ! 
You  could  not  ask  it  of  me  ?  " 

"  You  will,  I  suppose,  work  in  the  factory  first." 


232  NONE  SUCH? 

"Hush,  madam,"  protested  the  Governor.  "I  at 
least  am  cool  and  patient.  I  hate  to  do  it ;  but  I'll 
show  Horicon  up  and  cure  her,  —  and  care  for  her 
like  her  own  father,  whether  she'll  let  me  or  not." 

"  Cool  and  patient,  indeed  !  Oh,  oh,  you  are  so 
wrorigheaded  !  "  cried  the  girl  piteously.  "  To  serve 
me,  as  you  think,  what  will  you  do  to  Charley 
Horicon  ?  " 

"  Dear  child,  I  never  lack  for  means  to  track  a 
scamp.  Please  be  reasonable,  won't  you?" 

With  that  she  fell  on  her  knees  before  him.  "  Oh, 
sir,  full  well  I  know  the  fearful  power  of  your  mil- 
lions. This  great  establishment  swarms  with  men 
who  would  do  anything — yes,  there  are  to  be  found 
tools  who  would  kill  a  man  for  a  hundred  dollars. 
Your  millions  have  crushed  more  than  one  who  stood 
in  your  way  " 

Starting  back,  the  rich  man  turned  white.  "Have 
a  care,  Miss  May —  But  Heaven  help  me!  I  will 
take  anything  from  her  and  go  right  on  to  save  her." 
He  began  pacing  up  and  down  the  room.  "This  is 
tough  work,  being  a  father  to  a  wayward  girl." 

He  seemed  so  sincere  in  his  obstinate  kindness 
that,  after  gazing  on  him  for  a  moment,  the  girl's 
heart  pitied  him.  She  approached  him.  She  held 
out  her  hand  to  him,  though  he  paced  by  it  un- 
heeding, while  she  spoke.  "  Forgive  me,  Governor 
Randall.  I  take  it  back.  Oh,  let  me  remember !  I 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  233 

am  making  a  prayer,  not  judging  you.  Sir,  by  the 
memories  of  your  own  heart,  did  you  listen  to 
your  Anna  always  as  you  should?  By  any  love  you 
may  indeed  have  for  me,  desist  from  this  second 
blunder  of  yours.  In  Heaven's  name  I  ask,  leave 
Charley  and  me  to  ourselves.  Promise  me  now  to 
forget  us.  Let  us  be  as  if  we  were  not  in  the  same 
world  with  you." 

"  Impossible  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "My  rule  in  busi- 
ness has  always  been :  '  When  you're  right,  let  noth- 
ing stop  you.' '  As  if  this  was  business. 

There  was  nothing  more  to  do  or  say.  Dorothea 
simply  devoted  herself  to  the  task  of  getting  her 
mother  from  the  room,  the  Governor  helping  by  say- 
ing' ~ 

"  Madam,  go  with  your  daughter.     Keep  with  her 

for  to-day.  I  expect  Horicon  here  later  on.  I'll  fix 
him.  Go,  I  say."  They  obeyed  him  and  left  the 
room. 

"Darn  my  old  stockin'  ! "  exclaimed  the  solitary 
rich  man  as  they  left  the  room,  his  excitement  taking 
him  back  to  the  vernacular  of  his  boyhood.  "  By 
George,  I'd  rather  manage  the  whole  South-western 
and  Northern  Pacific  systems  !  I  ain't  getting  any- 
where trying  to  make  folks  happy.  I  am  worth 
nothing  except  at  making  dollars."  He  paced  the 
floor  more  slowly  now,  and  finally  stopped  at  that 
last  thought.  "  But,  by  George,  I'm  a  good  one  yet 
at  that !  "  touching  his  bell.  "  Let  'em  in  !  " 


234  NONE  SUCH? 

He  stationed  himself  at  the  door  as  the  obsequious 
directors  burst  upon  him,  his  face  as  impassive  as 
became  a  sphinx.  The  overwhelming  deference 
with  which  these  gray-haired  directors  passed  in, 
who  shall  tell  ?  One  must  have  seen  it  to  credit 
it. 

First  Director.  "  Ah,  Governor,  market's  stiffening 
up  since  you  went  to  New  York.  You're  a  great 
one  !  Give  us  your  hand." 

Second  Director.  "  I  hope  your  Excellency  is  as 
rugged  as  an  oak." 

The  Governor.  "  How  are  ye  ?  So,  so.  Let's  get 
in  and  at  it,  gentlemen." 

Third  Director.  "  Ha,  ha,  Governor  !  you're  a  won- 
der !  What  a  rattling  you  gave  them  in  New  York  ! 
Reminded  me  of  Coriolanus'  line;  yes,  like  an  eagle  in 
a  dove-cot.  You  recall  Shakespeare's  line?" 

The  Governor.  Hey  ?  I  took  the  carcasses,  I  know, 
and  threw  them  fellows  the  hides  and  hoofs,  by 
George  ! "' 

Fourth  Director.  "  Our  Yankee  Hercules,  welcome 
home !  My  stars,  Randall,  the  morning  papers  were 
full  of  it!  When  I  read  the  New  York  dispatches 
this  morning,  I  thought  to  myself,  I  know  that  man ; 
I  am  able  to  call  him  my  personal  friend ;  I  also  am 
an  humble  member  of  his  board  of  directors" 

The  Governor.  "  Glory,  Sampson  !  Get  in  there. 
Nothing  important  coming  up  to-day.  You  voted 


THK11E    WILL    YET   JiE   THOUSANDS.  235 

the  new  issue,  Hartley  wired  me.  You  gentlemen 
can  go  through  the  month's  routine.  I'm  tired  out, 
and  want  to  go  home." 

Fifth  Director.  "  Judge  Hartley  can,  of  course, 
call  us  to  order ;  but  we  want  to  see  our  president  on 
his  throne,  just  to  look  at  him  after  such  a  field-day. 
Achilles  returned  from  the  Trojan  wars." 

The  Governor.  "Heli?  Hartley,  call  the  Board 
to  order.  You've  got  all  the  business.  I'll  be  in 
shortly."  Then  he  stepped  to  the  window,  quiver- 
ing yet  with  nervous  weariness.  "  Going  to  storm, 
isn't  it  ?  " 

Judge  Hartley  brought  up  the  rear  behind  the 
twelfth  worshiper,  assenting :  "  Your  wishes,  Gov- 
ernor." Then  as  the  door  closed,  this  might  have 
been  in  the  attorney's  heart :  "  Got  a  chill,  old  man  ? 
Vice-President  Hartley  to-day,  six  months  hence 
President  Hartley." 

But  Governor  Randall  was  not  long  in  becoming 
himself  again,  hard,  cool,  calm.  He  pulled  over  the 
papers  on  his  desk  for  a  moment,  secured  what  he 
wanted,  and  was  about  to  follow  his  little  great. men, 
when  his  secretary  entered  and  half  hesitatingly 
said,  — 

"Governor  Randall,  the  case  of  young  Simons. 
You  wanted  him  turned  over  to  you  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment.  The  detectives  have  him  here 
now." 


236  NONE  SUCH? 

"  The  young  freight  agent  up  at  the  Junction  ?  " 
asked  the  Governor. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Let's  see  ;  he  stole  some  money." 

"  Fifteen  hundred  dollars.  My  father,  Judge 
Hartley,  says  we  can  send  him  to  prison  for  two 
years." 

"  What,  and  smutch  him  forever  for  fifteen  hun- 
dred pesky  dollars  ?  "  demanded  the  Governor.  "  Good 
fellow,  wife  and  baby,  first  offense.  Send  him  in 
here.  I  remember  now.  Yes,  I'll  attend  to  one  good 
deed  to-day  and  suit  myself  too."  He  had  stopped 
in  his  tracks,  papers  in  hand,  where  the  pale-faced, 
trembling  young  bundle  of  shame  and  fear  confronted 
him  the  next  moment. 

Softly,  yet  as  swift  as  lightning,  the  words  sprang 
from  the  Governor's  lips :  "  You're  the  boy  who 
tried  to  shoot  himself  for  very  shame?" 

"  Oh,  sir,  I'm  a  thief !  I've  nothing,  God  knows, 
to  say !  "  burst  out  the  young  culprit. 

"  That's  bad,"  said  the  man  of  power.  "  Dollars 
are  sacred  things,  so  the  law  says.  But  when  a 
fellow  jilts  a  trusting  girl,  or  worse,  he  don't  lose 
his  place.  Oh,  no,  that's  the  way  of  the  world. 
But,  boy,  I'm  an  odd  stick.  D'ye  know  what  I'm 
going  to  do  with  you  ?  Look  up  here.  There's  a 
kind  God  on  high.  Better  speak  to  him  about  it 
when  you  are  alone.  I'll  pay  the  fifteen  hundred 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.          237 

dollars.  And  now  go  back  to  your  place  and  be 
somebody.  I  raise  your  wages  for  your  wife's  and 
baby's  sake,  and  to  lessen  your  temptation.  Remem- 
ber, I  trust  you.  Let's  see  what  that  will  do." 

There  was  no  opportunity  given  for  a  scene  of 
gratitude,  for  Marcellus  hurried  his  man  promptly 
away. 

We  have  proposed  to  ourselves  to  see  this  busy 
man  through  one  day's  work,  at  least,  sample  of  all 
in  its  quick  changes  of  duties  and  swift  engrossment 
of  flying  moments.  It  will  not  be  proper  for  us  to 
enter  the  Directors'  Room.  Of  all  the  millions  of 
men,  women,  and  children  who  live  in  this  busy 
world,  few  of  us  ever  saw  that  show.  Sometimes 
it  is  no  show,  but  calm  as  summer  evenings  are. 
Sometimes  there  are  hot  and  fierce  words  over  the 
almighty  dollar.  As  in  this  particular  case,  what  prom- 
ised to  be  "  only  the  month's  routine"  degenerated 
into  a  stormy  session  of  three  hours.  It  is  said 
church  meetings  are  not  always  peaceful,  and  some- 
times the  brethren  bandy  epithets  not  complimentary. 
This  must  be  true,  for  we  read  it  all  the  next  day  in 
the  papers.  But  we  never  read  what  the  high  priests 
say  to  one  another  when  gathered  in  the  holy  of 
holies  of  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Mammon.  Do  they 
kiss  and  bless  one  another  always?  Are  there  no 
unbelievers  there?  no  heretics,  no  backsliders,  no 
faithless  ones  ?  Who  shall  say  ?  One  would  think 


238  NONE  SUCH? 

it  might  be  easy  to  agree  on  "  hard  facts,"  on  "  things 
seen."  It  is  not  strange  that  "fables,"  and  "things 
unseen  and  eternal,"  should  present  occasion  for  dis- 
pute ;  but  not  hard  cash. 

Still  it  was  a  stormy  session  in  this  case.  The 
autocrat  of  the  directors'  table  was  forced  to  rub 
some  ears  together,  and  to  put  his  foot  down.  When 
the  company  emerged  no  face  appeared  as  restful  as 
when  it  went  in.  The  Governor,  however,  wore  the 
same  impassive,  machine-like  calm.  There  is  yet 
work  for  him  to  do.  The  secretary  has  a  thousand 
and  one  things  to  submit.  The  Governor  looks  at 
the  clock  as  if  anticipating  his  gray  mare.  But 
another  and  another  and  another  paper  is  to  be 
signed,  till  at  length  the  laborious  day  draws  near 
its  close. 

"There  are  the  usual  requests  for  charity,"  said 
Marcellus  Hartley,  running  over  a  bundle  of  letters. 
"  I  suppose  I  shall  send  the  stated  checks,  as  usual. 
It  is  not  necessary  for  you  to  look  them  over,  unless 
you  will  add  to  the  list."  This  was  the  customary 
monthly  remark  of  the  private  secretary.  But  this 
afternoon,  to  his  surprise,  the  Governor  looked  up 
and  demanded,  — 

"  Let  me  see  the  list  to  which  I  am  giving 
monthly."  Running  his  eye  over  it  slowly  till  he 
came  to  the  footing  of  the  cash  column,  he  read 
aloud,  "  To  individuals,  then,  I  give  a  thousand 


THERE  WILL  YET  BE  THOUSANDS.     239 

dollars  per  month.  Most  of  them  I  never  see.  To 
institutions  of  one  kind  and  another,  five  thousand 
dollars  per  month,  most  of  whom  do  not  care  a  rap 
whether  —  whether  I  enjoy  it  or  not,  so  they  get  it. 
Marcellus !  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  At  the  beginning  of  this  year  I  drove  my  stake, 
did  I  not?" 

"  You  did.  You  do  every  year ;  and  this  year  you 
have  gone  beyond  it  as  usual." 

"  How  much  ?  " 

"  I  should  say  about  '  twenty-eight  thousand 
dollars.'  " 

"  Humph !  "  And  the  rich  man  fell  off  into  silent 
musing.  Let  us  hope  he  remembered  the  Giver  of 
all,  and  took  great  comfort  in  the  thought  of  the 
Great  Physician,  that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than 
to  receive.  But,  perhaps,  being  so  pressed  with  the 
business  of  collecting  these  dollars  for  years,  that,  as 
he  himself  had  said,  he  could  not  bring  his  mind, 
even  on  Sunday,  to  think  religious  thoughts  nor 
attend  a  church,  perhaps  this  neglected  old  sinner, 
whom  the  preachers  never  approached  but  to  wheedle 
and  flatter,  fell  off  to  thinking  that  it  was  about  time 
for  the  gray  mare. 

Suddenly  the  door  opened  and  a  nondescript  person 
stood  before  him,  tossing  back  a  mat  of  long  black 
hair,  and  waiting  to  be  bid  welcome.  The  Governor 
stared  at  him,  and  burst  out  with,  — 


240  NONE  SUCH? 

"Hullo !  who  in  thunder  are  you  ?  " 

"  My  name  is  Salve  Kowitski,  as  yet  unknown  to 
fame,"  replied  the  fellow  grandiloquently. 

"  I  should  say  so.  By  George  !  how'd  you  get  in 
here?" 

"  Hear  me  for  the  sake  of  the  unborn  millions," 
said  Kowitski. 

The  Governor  laughed.  "You're  on  the  unborn 
millions  lay,  too,  are  ye  ?  They  all  are."  And  he 
began  anew  a  search  for  papers  on  his  desk. 

"  You  received  a  letter  from  Kowitski  ? "  This 
sharply. 

"  You're  a  crank.  One  of  them  chaps  that  fire 
threatening  letters  at  us  poor  fellows."  The  Gov- 
ernor was  still  turning  over  his  papers.  "  I  didn't 
read  your  letter.  Look  at  that "  —  pointing  to  a 
basket  —  "  that's  only  ten  days  of  these  blood  and 
thunder  letters."  Evidently  the  Governor  was  now 
expecting  some  of  his  office  attendants  would  take 
the  man  in  hand  without  further  attention  from  him- 
self, and  remove  the  intruder.  But  Kowitski  glared 
at  the  letters  in  the  waste-basket  furiously,  struck 
a  tragic  attitude  with  folded  arms,  and  was  silent. 
Dennis  meanwhile,  laying  off  his  coat  and  dancing 
up  behind  in  pugilistic  attitude,  began  to  think  it 
time  to  interfere. 

"  Unread !  My  soul's  effusion  cast  out  as  trash !  " 
shouted  Kowitski, 


TI1EUE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  241 

"That's  about  the  size  of  it,  ain't  it?"  said  the 
Governor,  out  of  patience  now.  "  Now,  I  shall  be 
obliged  to  cast  you  out  as  trash  unless  "  — 

"  Oh,  hear  me  !  Two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  will  start  me." 

"  Less'n  that,  sorr,"  growled  Dennis. 

"  I  have  a  scheme,"  the  man  went  on,  "  that  will 
sweep  away  the  last  vestige  of  sorrow  between  the 
North  and  South,  and  between  China  and  America !  " 

"  Is  that  so  ?  "  The  Governor  was  momentarily 
amused,  and  looked  at  him. 

"Yes;  my  plan  will  change  the  whole  face  of 
Africa.  It  will  obliterate  for  ever  and  ever  and  ever 
the  fundamental  ethnic  difference  between  blacks 
and  whites,  whether  oriental  or  occidental,  making 
all  one.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars 
will  do  it." 

"  See  here.  How'd  this  fellow  get  in  here,  Mr. 
Secretary?" 

"  By  this  letter,"  explained  the  fidgeting  Mar- 
cellus,  handing  a  letter  to  his  employer.  Taking  it 
and  reading  it,  the  Governor  exclaimed  with  some 
surprise,  — 

"  Why,  this  is  a  letter  of  introduction,  Marcellus, 
from  the  President  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union.  She's  a  good  woman.  I've  given  her 
many  a  dollar.  Subscribe  a  thousand  dollars  a  year, 
don't  I  ?  See  here,  crank,  is  this  letter  genuine  ?  " 


242  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Do  you  doubt  she  would  introduce  me  ?  " 

"  You  forged  her  name,  you  scamp,  to  get  past  my 
doors.  What's  your  great  scheme  to  obliterate  all 
differences  between  blacks  and  whites,  to  change  the 
face  of  Africa  and  China  ?  Come,  let's  have  it  quick 
and  get  your  contribution  and  be  off." 

Producing  a  powder  box,  and  opening  it  with  a 
grand  nourish,  Kowitski  said :  "  By  washing  the 
colored  man  white,  sir." 

Everybody  laughed  except  Dennis,  whose  simple 
sense  showed  him  plainly  that  the  office  hour's 
amusement  might  cost  all  hands  some  serious  trouble 
shortly.  The  Governor,  pausing  half  way  to  the 
door  of  the  Directors'  Room,  and  motioning  back 
Dennis,  good-naturedly  remarked,  finally,  "  Oh,  is 
that  it?" 

"  Deny  me  not,  sir,  for  I  hold  in  this  bag  that 
which  will  blow  the  building  to  atoms.  A  holo- 
caust of  glory  receives  me."  With  that  he  tossed 
his  bag  in  air,  and  caught  it  again  in  his  hands  safely 
as  it  descended. 

"  All  right !  all  right !  "  said  the  Governor,  turning 
quickly  about.  "  Just  be  patient,  and  do  your  blow- 
ing up  when  you  are  all  alone  by  yourself.  I'll  draw 
you  a  check."  With  that  the  millionaire  stepped  to 
his  desk  and  wrote.  This  might  be  the  best  way 
after  all.  Then  handing  the  supposed  check  to  the 
madman,  he  said :  "  Now,  good-by.  Queen  Victoria 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  243 

might  subscribe  too.  You'd  better  take  a  tug-boat 
and  run  right  over  and  see  Vickie.  And  go  see  the 
Czar  of  Russia  too.  He'll  take  some,  I'm  sure." 

"  Thanks ;  I  go  !  My  powder  cleans  the  world  !  " 
The  poor  wretch  bowed  like  a  lord  in  waiting,  and 
bundled  himself  out  the  door. 

"  Shall  our  detectives  arrest  him? "  asked  Marcellus. 

"  No,  no,"  protested  the  Governor.  "He  ought  to 
be  arrested,  but  I  don't  want  to  be  the  one  to  do  it. 
Let  him  go." 

"  But  the  check  you  gave  him !  " 

"  I  signed  my  name  E-1-k-e-n-i-a-h  S.  R-a-n-d-1,  and 
on  the  busted  Maverick  Bank.  "  D'ye  suppose  he 
can  get  that  cashed  ?  By  George  !  let  him  if  he  can," 
and  the  Governor  disappeared  in  the  Directors'  room. 

"  That  spalpeen  will  butcher  our  dear  Governor 
yet  ! "  exclaimed  Dennis,  resuming  his  coat. 

The  secretary  ventured  to  remark  to  Dennis,  or  to 
the  empty  air,  that  there  ought  to  be  some  way  of 
excluding  such  callers.  But  he  did  not  know  what 
way.  No  one  could  read  another's  mind,  and  no 
public  man  could  think  of  excluding  everybody  from 
his  presence.  It  was  always  a  dangerous  thing  to 
succeed  in  this  world.  Every  monarch  in  history 
had  found  it  so.  "•  The  Governor  says  we  must  use 
reasonable  care,  but  if  they  want  to  get  at  you,  these 
cranks,  they  will  somewhere  ;  and  I  guess  that';j  so." 

Apparently,   therefore,    this    ridiculous   ajjailment 


244  NONE  SUCH? 

had  vanished.  A  loose  thread  in  the  world's  texture, 
it  was  no  uncommon  experience.  Probably  there 
was  danger  in  it.  Cranks  love  a  shining  mark. 
Still,  it  is  a  brush  of  quaint  hazard  that  is  passed ; 
and  now  for  the  gray  mare,  whom  Mike  will  drive 
down. 

The  Governor  had  not  calculated  carefully  all  the 
consequences  of  the  day's  deeds,  however.  Charles 
Horicon  and  'Dorothea  Mayfield  had  met.  Result, 
Captain  Horicon  is  now  on  his  way  hither  at  once 
to  demand  explanations.  He  hopes  to  arrive  at  the 
office  before  the  Governor  leaves.  In  fact,  he  is  here, 
he  has  entered  the  private  door,  following  hard  after 
Judge  Hartley  and  the  private  secretary,  who  have 
come  for  some  last  word.  Dennis  is  behind  them. 
But  behind  them  all  re-enters  the  unannounced  and 
tricked  Kowitzski,  shouting,  — 

"  You  deceived  me  !  I  will  not  be  fooled  !  "  He 
bounds  up  to  the  Governor,  as  he  is  closing  his  desk 
for  the  day. 

"  Hartley,  confound  you  !  Touch  the  bell,  man  !  " 
cries  the  Governor  ;  he  has  lost  nerve  with  the  day's 
labors.  But  Judge  Hartley  gets  under  the  table, 
like  the  coward  that  he  is,  and  cries  out  to  Horicon, 
strange  to  say :  "  Touch  the  bell,  Horicon,  on  the 
arm  of  the  Governor's  chair !  "  It  is  all  very  sudden, 
absurdly  sudden. 

"  You'd  better  not  call  for  help,"  yells  the  crazy 


THERE    WILL    YET  P»E   THOUSANDS.          245 

man.  "  I  see  you  are  a  lot  of  cowards.  Governor 
Randall,  I  "  — 

Randall  faces  him,  hands  clinched,  not  a  coward, 
but  retreating  a  bit.  Dennis  cries  out  from  the  hall- 
way :  u  I've  got  the  other  woodchuck  !  There's  two 
of  'em,  Horicon."  And  there  is  a  vulgar  sound  of 
curses  and  blows  from  the  door.  Horicon  steps  in 
before  the  Governor  promptly  enough,  with  the  stern 
order  to  the  intruder :  - 

"  You  crazy  scamp  !    Stop  where  you  are !  " 

"The  handbag,  Horicon!  Dynamite!"  The  Gov- 
ernor's quick  eye  had  caught  sight  of  the  dangerous 
little  bag. 

Throttling  the  fellow,  Horicon  demands  :  "  Give 
me  the  bag!"  filches  it  from  him,  and  deposits  it 
upon  the  table,  meanwhile  keeping  a  firm  grip  on 
the  man's  throat. 

"  Now,  get  out  of  here."  And  with  athletic  pushes 
the  Captain  forces  the  fellow  backward.  He  has  him 
nearly  across  the  threshold.  In  an  instant  more  a 
dozen  stalwart  porters  wTill  be  here,  for  call-bells  are 
ringing  their  alarms  all  over  the  great  establishment. 
Swift  thoughts  are  running  through  the  rich  man's 
mind.  He  has  often  thought  of  such  miserable  possi- 
bilities. Of  late  years  they  constitute  new  dangers 
for  the  very  rich.  Who  fired  the  Ephesian  dome  ? 
And  Ravaillacs  and  Guiteaus  are  still  abroad.  One 
moment  more,  Captain  Horicon.  The  Governor  even 


246  NONE  SUCH? 

starts  forward  himself  to  lend  a  hand;  for  crazed 
muscles  are  like  those  of  a  wild  beast,  though  Captain 
Horicon  is  much  the  larger  and  stronger  man. 

"Out!  Thank  God!"  The  Governor  devoutly 
uttered  his  thanks  as  the  door  has  closed  with  a  bang 
between  him  and  his  assailant. 

"Governor  Randall,"  exclaimed  the  pale  and  trem- 
bling Marcellus,  "  Captain  Horicon  has  saved  our 
lives ! " 

Captain  Horicon  struggled  back  into  the  room, 
groping  with  one  hand  for  a  seat,  while  he  held  the 
other  before  his  eyes.  A  strange,  pungent  odor  of 
chemicals  began  to  fill  the  room. 

"  Saved  my  —  our  lives?"  echoed  the  millionaire. 
"  I  hain't  a  doubt  of  it.  Charley,"  yes,  he  so  ad- 
dressed Horicon,  stepping  up  to  him,  and  laying  a 
hand  on  his  shoulder,  "  are  you  cut,  or  what  ?  " 

"  I  believe,"  was  Horicon 's  reply,  spoken  slowly, 
and  with  every  evidence  of  extreme  agony,  "  the 
fellow  has  put  my  eyes  out." 

Judge  Hartley  had  by  this  time  recalled  himself. 
He  began :  "  Governor,  I  don't  think  you  need  wait. 
I'll  attend  to  this  adventurer  too." 

Horicon  simply  raised  his  head.  Governor  Randall 
glared  at  the  Judge  like  an  enraged  lion. 

"  Hartley,  by  George,  hain't  you  any  feelings  ? 
The  boy's  given  his  young  eyes  for  mine.  Charley 
Horicon,  you  can't  be  a  rake.  Rakes  have  no  courage 


THERE   WILL    YET  HE   THOUSANDS.          247 

like  that,  nor  great  lawyers  either,  by  George  ! " 
He  was  on  his  knees  before  the  young  man,  attempt- 
ing to  relieve  the  closed  and  bleached  eyelids  with  a 
hand  as  gentle  as  a  woman's. 

"  Thank  you,  Governor  Randall,"  said  Horicon. 
"  Now  will  you  order  a  carriage  ?  " 

"  Go  in  my  carriage  to  my  house.  Say,  now,  you 
will?" 

In  his  great  agony  the  young  man  groaned  out : 
"  Anywhere,  —  a  physician." 

"  Dennis,  telephone  for  Dr.  Wilson  and  go  for 
Miss  May  field,"  cried  the  Governor. 

"  Miss  Mayfield  —  is  —  is  waiting  for  me  in  the 
ante-room  below,"  answered  Captain  Horicon,  rising 
to  his  feet. 

"  Go  call  her !  "  The  Governor  spoke  it  like  a 
monarch,  and  a  dozen  hearers  who  had  collected 
sprang  to  do  his  bidding. 


248  NONE  SUCH? 


CHAPTER  X. 

"  TAKE  me  to  the  Marine  Hospital ;  that  is  my 
place,"  groaned  Captain  Horicon  to  Miss  Mayfield,  as 
she  was  guiding  him  from  the  door  of  the  waiting- 
room  to  a  carriage. 

"  Governor  Randall,"  said  Miss  Mayfield,  promptly 
addressing  the  old  gentleman,  who  had  followed  the 
group  down  the  stairs  with  much  solicitude,  and 
stood  without  his  hat  or  overcoat  in  the  sharp  east 
wind.  "  Captain  Horicon  desires  to  be  taken  to  the 
hospital  at  the  Navy  Yard.  It  certainly  does  seem 
his  proper  destination." 

"  As  you  judge  best,"  responded  the  Governor, 
"only  get  right  off."  It  was  evident  that  Governor 
Randall  was  thoroughly  shaken,  not  to  say  pros- 
trated. He  did  not  follow  to  the  hospital,  but  hav- 
ing requested  Marcellus  Hartley  to  do  so,  and  to 
telephone  fully  the  surgeon's  verdict,  ordered  the 
groom  to  drive  back  the  gray  mare,  as  lie  "did  not 
feel  equal  to  pulling  the  lines,"  entered  a  carriage 
which  Dennis  had  called,  and  drove  to  Glen  Theron, 

On  the  morning  of  the  next  day  an  unheard-of 
event  took  place  at  Glen  Theron. 

"  Governor  Randall  is  ill ! " 

This  strange,  new  event   in   the  world's   history 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  249 

pushed  its  way  to  notice  rudely,  yet  was  not  to  be 
put  aside.  The  old  house  servants  whispered  it  in 
amazement,  though  they  had  expected  it  in  the  natu- 
ral course  of  events  late  years.  For  more  than 
twenty  years,  however,  to  whose  detailed  history  on 
the  estate  some  memories  ran,  rarely  had  a  morning 
broken  when  that  handsome  form  was  not  early  astir, 
breathing  the  fresh  air  of  a  day  scarcely  more  newly 
created  than  this  owner  of  so  much  of  it.  Never,  so 
far  as  any  one  could  remember,  had  the  advancing 
hours  not  heard  at  least  his  ringing  voice  in  the 
echoing  marble  halls,  across  the  lawns,  speaking  some 
order  for  the  day. 

"  He  is  certainly  very  ill,"  the  physician  informed 
John  Clarkson,  poor  mournful  soul,  who  had  passed 
most  of  the  night  in  the  Governor's  room,  and  now 
asked  a  pointed  question  of  Dr.  Wilson  in  the 
library.  "He  is  asleep,  you  saw,"  the  doctor  con- 
tinued. "  Let  us  keep  him  as  quiet  as  we  can.  But, 
Mr.  Clarkson,"  and  he  drew  near  to  say  it,  "  if  the 
Governor  has  family  friends  —  mind  you,  not  business 
friends ;  no  Hartleys  nor  any  one  else  to  talk  busi- 
ness—  but  if  you  know  any  one  kin  to  him  who 
ought  to  be  informed  " 

"  Which  there  ain't  none.  God  help  th'  dear  old 
man !  "  groaned  Clarkson  with  trembling  voice,  great 
honest  tears  at  the  same  time  coursing  one  another 
down  his  rugged  face. 


250  NONE  SUCHt 

But  within  an  hour  the  world  knew  it,  the  reporters 
from  all  the  newspapers  having  buzzed  John  Clark- 
son  and  sent  abroad  what  they  could  discern,  —  that 
thirty-five  millions  of  wealth,  more  or  less,  were  sick, 
that  they  were  mortal,  finite,  and  —  not  dying.  No, 
the  millions  of  gold  do  not  die  ;  they  simply  laugh 
and  kick,  with  their  little  yellow  legs,  their  late  chief 
servant  into  his  grave,  while  they  trot  nimbly  off  to 
some  other  master.  The  world  mourned?  Why, 
no ;  the  world  began  to  speculate  as  to  the  new 
master. 

"  He  can't  see  you ! "  John  Clarkson  was  very 
peremptory  with  Judge  Hartley,  which  was  unfor- 
tunate. 

"  You  will  bear  me  witness,  bub,"  said  the  Judge, 
stroking  his  square  lower  jaw  with  one  hand,  and 
laying  the  other  on  his  son  Marcellus's  shoulder, 
"  that  I  am  not  able  to  gain  access  to  the  sick  man's 
chamber.  Come,  let's  walk  down  to  the  electric.  I 
must,  of  course,  manage  as  I  think  best." 

The  father  and  son  went  out  of  the  deserted 
library ;  they  paused  at  the  eastern  portico,  then 
they  paused  again  beneath  the  great  oak  beyond  the 
fountain,  and  yet  a  third  time  they  paused  on  the 
hilltop,  from  which  all  the  wide  meadows  could  be 
seen  dotted  over  with  their  comely  herds. 

"  Come,  father,"  said  the  son,  "  you  are  due  in 
town.  Why  are  you  halting  like  this  so  often  ?  " 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  251 

Then  for  the  first  time  in  a  long  half-hour  the  attorney 
spoke,  waving  his  hand  out  in  an  all-comprehending 
gesture,  as  he  said,  — 

"  When  this  is  mine,  bub  "  —  but  did  not  complete 
his  sentence. 

"  It  is  dreadful  to  hear  you  speak  in  this  way, 
father."  Marcellus  spoke  with  undisguised  feeling. 

"  Why,  you  little  imp,  you,"  said  the  Judge,  "  is 
it  not  enough  that  Horicon  has  robbed  you  of  your 
sweetheart,  that  you  are  so  willing  to  acquiesce  with 
the  Fates  that  would  give  him  your  fortune  ?  " 

"  He  has  not  robbed  me  of  Miss  Sampson's  love,  if 
that  is  what  you  mean.  I  am  not  sure  she  has  any 
affections.  Even  if  she  has,  nothing  on  earth  could 
separate  Dorothea  Mayfield  and  Charley  Horicon 
now.  Why,  father,  when  I  went  over  there  this 
morning,  was  she  not  sitting  by  his  chair  reading  to 
him  ?  She,  with  her  mother,  is  the  surgeon's  guest, 
and  spends  all  her  time  with  the  man  who  loves  her 
as  he  loves  his  life." 

"How  bad  off  is  he?" 

"  It  is  ungrateful  in  you  that  you  have  not  before 
asked  me  that,  father.  He  is  all  right.  In  ten  days 
he  will  be  about  his  duties,  they  say.  I  hope  to  — 
to  the  Fates  that's  so.  He  was  a  most  intrepid 
defender  of  us  all." 

"  You  don't  want  these  millions,  then  ?  "  said  the 
Judge,  with  the  evident  intent  to  draw  out  fully  his 
son's  mind. 


252  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Father,  I  say  frankly  I  will  do  nothing  against 
the  interests  of  a  man  who  sticks  to  a  lovely  poor 
girl,  when  a  rich  one  tried  to  make  him  as  false  as 
she  was  ready  to  prove  herself  to  me.  As  for  me, 
I'd  better  live  single  than  be  mismated.  I  thank 
God,  there  I  that  I  understood  her  in  time.  Once 
married  your  devil's  to  pay.  Horicon  did  me  a 
service.  He  took  off  her  lustrous  mask,  and  he  did 
it  honorably.  In  fact,  she  took  it  off  for  him  and 
without  his  asking.  Her  father  helped  her.  I  know 
all  about  it.  I  would  gladly  do  Charley  Horicon 
some  service  in  return." 

"  Ah,  yes  ;  then  I  presume  she  hates  Horicon  by 
this  time,"  said  the  Judge,  rubbing  his  square  chin. 

"  She  would  call  it  altruistic  aversion,  the  worst 
sort  of  hatred,  by  the  way."  Marcellus  laughed 
derisively. 

"  Miss  Sampson  has  been  ready  to  co-operate  with 
me  through  her  father,  who  is  managing  director,  in 
tempting  Horicon  to  take  a  position  on  the  other 
Road,"  said  the  Judge  thoughtfully. 

"  Yes,  no  doubt.  She  is  a  long-headed  woman," 
exclaimed  the  young  man  excitedly.  "  I  see  that  all 
now  too.  You  know  that  the  only  one  thing  that 
Governor  Randall  never,  never  would  forgive  in 
Horicon,  or  any  other  man,  is  his  leaving  our 
employ  for  a  position  with  a  competitor.  Father, 
this  is  your  own  last  card.  The  girl  acts  impet- 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  253 

uously  from  revenge ;  you  act  from  your  change- 
less purpose  to  prevent  another  will  giving  Horicon 
all." 

"  Pooh,  Pooh  !  I  don't  care  how  many  wills  Ki 
Randall  makes,"  stoutly  asserted  the  attorney,  swell- 
ing out  his  person  and  looking  up  Elm  Avenue  for 
the  electric. 

"  Pardon  me,  my  father,  you  do  care  greatly 
whether  you  have  bright,  resolute,  capable  Charles 
Horicon  to  fight,  or  a  lot  of  suckers,  as  you  call  them, 
such  as  our  city  aldermen,  trustees  of  the  public 
library,  and  various  colleges  and  the  like,  who  would 
be  clay  in  your  hands." 

"  You  little  cuss  !  "  said  the  Judge,  with  an  oath  of 
contempt,  as  he  put  his  hands  on  his  hips  and  looked 
down  at  his  only  son.  "You  don't  seem  to  care  for 
all  this  wealth.  You  are  not  worth  my  fighting  for 
you ;  and  I  would  not  strike  another  blow,  except 
I  am  myself  to  live  for  five  and  thirty  years  yet.  / 
propose  to  be  Governor  Randall  over  again,  if  the 
dying  old  man  but  knew  it.  I  like  power.  This 
vast  wealth  is  perfectly  organized.  The  old  man's 
brain  has  done  well.  Almost  any  man  could  sit 
in  the  office  and  run  things  now.  Even  a  Horicon 
could.  You  are  of  small  account,  my  lad,  in  my 
problem.  But  I  am  going  to  buy  the  presidency  of 
the  United  States  with  all  this." 

Marcellus    Hartley   had    thought    he    knew   this 


254  NONE  SUCH? 


strange  man.  But  many  times  each  year  of  his 
maturing  life  he  had  seen  suddenly  yawning  before 
him  great  openings  of  a  deeper  purpose  of  selfishness 
than  he  had  ever  dreamed  of  his  father  before. 

"You,  President  of  the  United  States,  father?" 
The  boy  stood  gazing  at  the  man ;  and  as  he  stood 
there,  while  his  father  simply  nodded :  "  Yes ; 
that's  the  plan,  bub,"  the  youth  began  to  under- 
stand many  things  that  he  had  seen  for  several 
years.  This  hoarding  of  money,  this  reaching  and 
overreaching,  this  purchase  far  and  wide  of  patrons 
that  the  corporation  could  hardly  be  imagined  to 
have  the  remotest  use  for.  So  this  was  the  use  to 
which  he  would  put  these  millions.  And  the  son 
seemed  to  see  himself  fading  into  thin  air,  of  the 
smallest  possible  account  in  the  plans  of  a  masterly 
conspirator. 

The  electric  was  now  at  hand,  and  the  two  men 
entered  the  car.  Judge  Hartley  did  not  speak  his 
whole  thought.  In  fact,  he  may  never  have  fully 
resolved  upon  one  element  of  his  selfish  course  till 
that  moment. 

"  I'll  marry  Hennie  Sampson,  the  superb,  myself !  " 
It  came  upon  him  like  a  flash  now,  however.  The 
farther  he  rode  the  more  the  flash  settled  into  a 
strong  and  garish  light  of  conviction  deep  resolved. 
"  Yes,  I'll  marry  the  girl  myself."  The  more  he 
thought  upon  the  plan,  as  days  went  by,  the  more  he 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  255 

felt  his  old  heart  warm  with  a  wish  to  possess  the 
brilliant  young  philosopher,  whose  views  were  not 
his  own,  to  be  sure,  since  he  acknowledged  no 
religion,  while  she  acknowledged  all  religions. 
Still,  it  did  not  matter  in  the  final  resolution.  All 
is  as  vague  as  nothing  in  matters  of  faith,  the  lawyer 
reasoned. 

There  is  little  to  be  written  of  the  days  that  im- 
mediately followed.  A  sick  chamber  has  but  scant 
history  for  the  outside  world,  whether  at  Glen 
Theron  or  the  Marine  Hospital.  The  Judge  was 
right  about  one  thing  —  the  great  Randall  businesses 
went  on  almost  of  themselves.  It  had  been  in  the 
Governor's  mind,  in  fact,  that  system  and  order  were 
well-nigh  regnant  now  in  his  vast  properties,  so  that 
the  leisure  to  enjoy,  and  "not  work  like  a  mean 
slave  looking  after  things,"  would  be  a  possibility  to 
a  man  of  Charles  Horicon's  fine  executive  abilities. 

The  readers  of  this  history  must  wait  about  these 
invalid  chambers  as  patiently  as  they  can.  Particu- 
larly is  patience  needed  waiting  around  the  great 
mansion  whose  doors  John  Clarkson  guards  like  a 
watch-dog  lying  on  a  door-mat.  The  reporters  wait. 
The  Stock  Exchange  waits.  The  Trustees  of  Alex- 
ander College  and  various  other  servitors  of  the 
unborn  millions  wait.  The  senators  and  aldermen 
wait.  The  board  of  directors  wait  and  do  Judge 
Hartley's  bidding,  some  snarling  out,  most  fawning. 


256  NONE  SUCH? 

Judge  Hartley,  as  Vice-President  of  several  of 
the  Roads,  and  conversant  with  all  interests,  went 
everywhere  that  the  invalid  master  would  have  gone, 
appeared  everywhere  that  he  would  have  appeared, 
and  was  honored,  very  rapidly  too,  with  almost  every 
honor  that  was  customarily  bestowed  on  the  rightful 
owner  of  all.  State  Street  bowed  low  to  him ;  and 
he  thought  the  mighty  Yankee  street  grew  daily 
more  deferential,  as  he  tarried  in  Boston  a  whole 
agreeable  week.  He  ran  over  to  New  York  in  Gov- 
ernor Randall's  own  private  car,  by  the  wa}*,  and 
Wall  Street  knew  him.  Some  great  men  rode  back 
with  him,  feeling  of  him,  much  as  an  auctioneer 
thrusts  his  thumb  into  fine  upholstery  in  a  ruined 
rich  man's  parlor,  to  see  about  how  much  can  be  got 
for  these  things  under  to-morrow's  hammer.  Three 
or  four  of  the  great  men  went  on  to  Boston  with 
the  Vice-President,  concluding  it  was  worth  while, 
though  other  some  got  off  at  New  Haven,  twirling 
their  thumbs  and  concluding  to  "  wait  and  see  how 
the  cat  would  jump."  In  Boston  Vice-President 
Hartley  gave  a  dinner,  "  very  modest  and  quiet  affair, 
considering  how  ill  our  poor  Randall  really  con- 
tinues." The  Algonquins  also  thumbed  the  Judge. 
The  Somerset,  being  largely  at  various  country  clubs 
now,  did  not  thumb  him  yet.  Perhaps  they  never 
would,  as  they  had  not  Governor  Randall,  though  of 
the  seventh  generation  born,  not  in  Suffolk  County, 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  257 

but  in  rude  Aroostook.  So  the  days  ran  by,  some 
saying,  "  Simon  says,  Thumbs  up,"  and  other  some, 
"  Thumbs  down." 

Nearly  two  weeks  had  passed,  and  more  than  once 
the  variously  busy  Vice-President  had  met  Miss 
Hennie  Sampson.  Director  Sampson  had  given  the 
order :  "  Thumbs  up,"  which  helped  matters.  Mar- 
cellus,  patient  soul,  was  working  miles  away  with 
clerical  fidelity,  not  to  say  drudgery. 

It  was  one  of  those  wonderful  late  August  even- 
ings in  the  old  town,  when  across  the  Charles  River 
and  away  over  the  purpling  crest  of  Corey  Hill  the 
scarlet  glow  of  sunset  deepened  slowly  to  that  hue 
which  is  wordless  in  its  splendor.  The  golden 
waters,  which  sent  back  their  color  in  the  faces  at 
the  window  —  face  of  Hennie  Sampson,  the  superb, 
and  Judge  Hartley,  the  massive  -•-  lent  the  glow  of 
youth  to  him,  and  the  radiance  of  girlish  freshness  to 
her.  The  house  seemed  somewhat  solitary  this  mid- 
summer evening.  The  stately  Beacon  Street  at  the 
front  was  solitary,  except  here  and  there  where  a 
Socratic  dwelling  opened  wide  its  doors  to  the  glori- 
ous east  wind,  which,  being  thus  invited  in,  swept 
through  and  cooled  any  weary,  wealthy  loiterer  in 
town,  as  it  found  him  by  the  back  windows  dreaming 
on  the  sky  and  river. 

"  The  new  bridge  is  a  feature,"  remarked  Miss 
Sampson,  "  of  which  I  never  tire.  It  is  a  bracelet  of 


258  NONE  SUCH? 

brilliants  around  the  river's  arm,  when  at  night  the 
lights  are  on." 

"  It  reminds  me,"  replied  the  man,  "  of  some  lus- 
trous pathway  through  the  dull,  dark  world  —  a 
high-road  of  preferment,  of  sincere  ambitions  —  such 
as  I  have  always  believed  would  fit  you,  Miss 
Hennie." 

"You  think  me  ambitious,  then,"  she  responded, 
moving  her  fan  more  languidly,  and  thinking  with  a 
strong  mental  pleasure  how  fortunate  it  was  to  have 
found  at  last  a  man  who  sympathized  with  her 
moods. 

"  I  know  it,  Miss  Sampson,"  said  he.  "  You  were 
born  for  grand  station  and  lofty  social  power.  You 
should  reign  in  this  house  as  in  a  De  StaeTs  salon." 

"  No,"  said  she  quickly.  "  This  is  papa's  latest 
toy,  this  house.  Besides,  it  is  too  new." 

How  happy  the  hint !  Was  it  a  hint  ?  He  snatched 
at  it  in  a  moment.  "  I  know.  You  are  thinking  of 
that  other  very  old  house  on  the  hill.  Suppose  we 
take  that  from  the  cobwebs  and  the  spiders." 

"Sir!" 

"  Miss  Hennie,"  the  rugged  lovemaker  bent  for- 
ward, and  went  straight  on  now.  There  was  nothing 
warm  about  his  avowal,  except  perhaps  the  deep  red 
flashes  that  the  dying  day  entangled  in  the  three  dia- 
monds en  his  shirt  front.  "  Governor  Randall  will 
never  occupy  his  Beacon  Street  residence  again.  I 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.          259 

will  take  it.  Perhaps  I  can  take  —  purchase,  I  mean 
—  Glen  Theron  too.  Will  you  come  with  me  and 
open  the  house  that  has  stood  for  a  hundred  and  fifty 
years  under  the  shadow  of  the  State  House,  looking 
down  on  the  elms  of  the  Common  ?  " 

The  girl  held  the  fan  motionless,  picking  at  the 
edges.  This  philosopher  in  exquisite  dress,  at  whose 
youthful  feet  almost  literally  one  of  the  foremost 
attorneys  of  the  land  was  suing,  and  a  very  rich  man, 
too,  all  business  Boston  had  been  lately  saying, 
paused,  weighing  the  matter.  Was  not  this  ready- 
made  great  man  far  better  than  one  to  order  ?  Would 
she  do  any  better  among  the  young  savants  of  the 
Social  Science  Convention  at  Saratoga,  whither  she 
was  going  next  week  ?  Probably  not.  But  could 
she  drive  ?  She  will  try  now  first  and  make  sure. 

"  I  could  not  marry  a  man  who  never  attends 
church." 

"  I  can  attend  such  churches  as  you  affect,  dear 
girl,"  he  answered. 

"I  am  now  a  confirmed  theosophist,"  she  added, 
flashing  her  bright  eyes  at  him. 

"  A  man  cannot  be  elected  to  great  place  in  the 
Republic  at  large,"  he  promptly  continued,  while  he 
watched  the  effect  of  his  hint,  and  saw  the  answer- 
ing gleam  of  quick  comprehension  in  those  intelli- 
gent eyes,  "  unless  he  professes  some  religious  faith. 
Ingersoll's  fate  proves  that.  I  have  made  a  mistake. 


260  NONE  SUCH? 

I  am  ready  to  be  guided.  I  think  I  could  learn  at 
Concord." 

And  still,  for  all  this,  she  held  him  off.  She  knew 
her  beauty  was  inflaming  the  burnt-out  embers  of  his 
old  masculine  mind.  She  thought  also  that  she  knew 
that  he  admired  her  mind.  But  a  proud  creature 
like  this  could  wed  herself  to  no  scandals,  to  no 
doubtful  fortunes.  Then,  too,  —  oh,  it  was  a  woman's 
revenge,  and  natural  enough  without  attributing  it  to 
viciousness,  —  Mr.  Horicon. 

"  Are  you  sure  you  are  to  succeed  to  our  great 
man's  powers?  There  has  been  a  rumor  that  Mr. 
Horicon  was  to  be  his  heir." 

"  He  has  destroyed  that  will." 

"  He  may  make  another  like  it." 

"  Which  will  not  matter ;  though  if  you  are  dis- 
posed, I  think  with  your  father's  influence  we  can 
separate  those  two  men  forever." 

"  How  ? "  Her  beautiful  eyes  are  cold  enough 
now. 

"  Secure  his  appointment  as  second  or  third  vice- 
president  of  the  rival  railway  system,  where  your 
father  has  considerable  power,  and  is  rapidly  climbing 
into  supreme  control." 

The  woman  took  a  moment  to  think  out  the  plot. 

"  You  are  right,"  she  responded.  "  Papa  says  he 
has  all  he  can  do  now  to  keep  friends  with  the  Gov- 
ernor. Mr.  Randall  thinks  he  made  papa.  Just 


THERE  WILL    YET  HE   THOUSANDS.  261 

think  of  the  absurdity  of  it !  And  he  is  angry  that 
papa  invested  in  the  competing  system.  You  are 
right.  But  I  am  not  disposed  to  make  Mr.  Horicon's 
fortunes." 

"See  now,"  he  argued  eagerly,  and  a  queer  love- 
making  it  was  between  these  two  brains,  "  no  one  can 
prevent  Horicon's  fortunes  turning  out  passably  well. 
But  a  position  with  your  father  is  worth,  say,  ten 
thousand  dollars  per  year.  Result,  unappeasable 
anger  of  Randall,  and  the  loss  of  thirty-five  millions. 
Later  on "  —  and  the  attorney  straightened  up, 
shrugged  his  square  shoulders,  which  appeared  more 
rectangular  than  ever  in  his  dress  suit,  spread  out  his 
hands,  adding,  "  a  few  bankers  on  your  father's 
board  can  object  to  young  Horicon's  methods  in  the 
corporation,  and  request  his  resignation.  That  ships 
him  West,  say,  or  to  the  dev—  Pardon  me."  The 
slip  caused  him  to  rub  his  chin. 

Would  altruism  yield  itself  to  this?  Certainly. 
Altruism  knows  not  mercy  nor  forgiveness.  Altruism 
is  self,  projected  everywhere.  Can  one  be  merciful 
to  self,  or  forgive  self?  No.  One  condemns  or  jus- 
tifies  self.  To  love  one's  neighbor  as  one's  self  may 
not  be  a  very  high  standard.  There  is  another  creed 
whose  dogma  reads  :  "  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than 
this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends." 
Miss  Sampson's  altruistic  philosophy  acknowledged 
no  cross,  however. 


262  NONE  SUCH? 

"  I  will  marry  you,"  she  said,  and  rose  up  to  her 
full  superb  height  to  yield  him  her  soft  and  shapely 
hand.  The  shadows  were  now  deep  in  the  great 
parlors  behind  them.  The  mirrors  scarcely  reflected 
more  than  their  two  stately  shapes  revealed  against 
a  shadowed  river,  empurpled  hills,  and  tarnished  yel- 
low sky.  There  may  have  been  a  portent  in  these 
shadows. 

"•  Let  us  walk  down  the  street,"  Judge  Hartley 
suggested,  "  and  climb  the  hill  past  the  other  house." 
As  they  walked  she  asked  of  her  own  motion,  — 

"  Where  is  Captain  Horicon  ?  Are  they  married 
and  I  not  know  of  it?  Was  he  badly  injured  by  that 
down-trodden  and  enraged  victim  of  ages  of  social 
and  religious  misrule  ?  " 

Where  was  Captain  Horicon,  to  be  sure?  Stand- 
ing on  the  parade  at  the Navy  Yard  with  Doro- 
thea Mayfield,  watching  this  same  sunset.  They 
were  strolling,  a  little  apart  from  the  gay  company 
which  usually  gathered  at  dress  parade,  and  to  listen 
to  the  marine  band. 

"  I  do  not  wonder,  Charley,"  Dorothea  was  saying, 
"  that  poets  speak  of  the  sea  of  life.  How  change- 
able life  is !  That  terrible  month  of  darkness  and 
storm  which  we  have  passed  through !  Now  we  are 
perfectly  happy,  are  we  not,  dearie?  like  the  sea  as 
it  stretches  yonder,  all  light." 

"  You  forgave  me,  precious  girl,  even  the  very  ap- 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  263 

peararice  of  evil.  You  were  like  the  faithful  light 
that  brightens  on  the  sails  out  there.  You  notice, 
Dorothea,  how  dark  the  sea  is  growing  towards  the 
eastern  horizon,  yet  that  fellow's  sails  out  there  are 
white  as  silver.  A  ship  always  seems  to  me  to  be 
feeling  its  way,  poking  about,  as  I  was  for  a  moment 
doing.  But  the  light  is  ever  in  the  sail.  You  are 
my  light.  Really,  however,  I  never  had  a  heart- 
throb of  interest  in  Miss  Sampson." 

"No?" 

"  You  doubt  me  ?  " 

"  You  once  doubted  me,  Charley,  when  a  very  rich 
man  did  me  a  certain  honor." 

"  Never !  " 

"Never,  then  say  I." 

"  God  bless  you,"  exclaimed  he  warmly.  "  I  like 
to  believe  he  sent  us  into  the  world  for  each  other. 
Since  I  have  been  helpless  here,  a  thing  I  never  knew 
before,  when  you  led  me  about  for  exercise  day  by 
day,  and  I  felt  ray  limbs  so  strong,  but  my  eyes  so 
blind  —  Dorothea,  if  I  only  had  words  to  express  it, 
what  thrill  of  love  went  through  my  hand  holding 
yours  that  I  could  have  crushed,  poor  little  soft 
thing."  He  caught  the  hand  from  his  arm  and  kissed 
it  passionately. 

They  had  wandered  out  on  the  walk  that  stretched 
along  above  the  old-fashioned  bomb-proofs.  They 
were  not  beyond  hearing  of  the  music  that  came  up 


264  NONE  SUCH? 

to  them  from  the  parade.  He  perched  her  on  a  gun- 
carriage,  and  there  they  continued  their  love-making. 

"  It  seems  hard  to  think  of  strife  and  hate  in  all 
this  beautiful  world,"  she  murmured. 

"At  least,"  he  replied,  as  he  looked  up  into  her 
face  with  sincere  homage,  this  giant  curled  up  there 
on  the  grass  at  the  feet  of  a  goddess,  "  there  is  noth- 
ing in  our  hearts  but  good-will  for  the  whole  big 
world.  No  man  could  belong  to  you  and  hate  his 
fellow." 

Nor  did  she  put  his  adoration  aside.  She  fed  it  by 
returning  it.  Perhaps  such  moments  are  the  finest 
gifts  of  the  Creator  to  his  creatures  on  the  earth. 
The  cynic  has  sneered  at  this  happiness,  the  wicked 
have  denied  it.  The  pessimist  has  magnified  pain, 
and  painted  thistles  and  weeds  large  in  his  picture. 
The  broken-hearted  has  forgotten  such  happiness,  if 
he  ever  had  it,  through  the  benumbings  of  his  grief. 
They  who  travesty  the  religion  of  Him  who  adorned 
and  beautified  the  Gallilean  wedding  with  the  first 
miracle  that  he  wrought  at  Cana,  who  persist  in 
misrepresenting  our  fair  world  as  perpetually  a  vale 
of  tears,  a  world  whose  chief  service  is  to  disappear, 
whose  best  use  is  to  be  compared  with  heaven  and  so 
be  despised,  —  they  minify  the  joy  of  glad  young 
hearts,  and  do  blaspheme  their  Maker. 

But  yet  it  is  true  that  God  was  infinite  in  goodness 
when  he  mated  the  strong,  upright  man  and  the 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  265 

gracious,  devoted  woman.  To  have  thought  it  out, 
invented  it,  of  course,  as  the  Creator  of  all  that  is 
good  must  have  done,  reveals  his  beneficence  over 
against  the  whole  list  of  pangs  and  sorrows  whose 
origin  no  man  knows  except  they  be  the  penalty  of 
sin.  It  is  Life  over  against  Death,  and  — 

"  Life  is  ever  Lord  of  Death, 
And  Love  can  never  lose  its  own." 

As  they  sat  there,  these  two,  gazing  into  each  other's 
eyes,  they  knew  the  truth  in  their  turn,  that  they  were 
happier  then  than  ever  they  need  be  sad  in  days  to 
come,  if  each  were  ever  true  as  God  ordained  ;  knew 
in  spite  of  all  the  debates  of  philosophies  and  creeds 
overstrained.  The  touch  of  her  hand,  as  he  held  it, 
was  a  delight  outweighing  the  agony  of  wounds  that 
men  dread  most.  The  touch  of  her  lips  was  sweeter 
than  any  parching  thirst  upon  a  long-neglected  battle- 
field could  be  bitter.  Good  is  more  than  evil.  The 
latter  has  limits.  The  former  has  none,  thank  God  ! 

Nor  is  there  in  those  offices  that  evil  makes  a  pos- 
sibility, such  as  mercy  and  self-sacrifice,  a  joy  that 
can  compare  with  the  unvexed  love  of  the  true  man 
and  his  rightful  mate.  If  all  youth  knew  and  prized 
aright  this  greatest  earthly  good,  what  woes  are  that 
might  be  no  more  ! 

When  at  length  these  two  arose  and  walked  away, 
the  music  lying  about  them  in  the  sunset  air  like  a 


266  NONE  SUCH? 

benediction,  the  breath  of  the  sea  giving  them  life, 
the  westering  sun  saluting  them,  the  earth  should 
have  acknowledged  them,  if  it  had  had  speech. 
"For  such  as  you  was  Eden;  and  there  is  nothing 
since  that  distant  time  but  is  yours,  so  long  as  you 
keep  each  other." 

As  Charley  and  Dorothea  approached  the  benches 
where  a  very  fortification  of  parasols  hid  the  specta- 
tors in  front  of  the  battalion,  wholly  unexpected  they 
noticed  Marcellus  Hartley  coming  straight  for  them. 
There  could  be  no  mistaking  his  movements,  he  was 
in  search  of  them. 

"  Why,  certainly.  Let's  go  meet  him,"  remarked 
Charley  cordially.  "  We  not  only  want  to  see  him, 
but  he  will  have  news  from  Glen  Theron." 

A  moment  more  and  the  three  were  shaking  hands; 
and,  since  they  really  had  much  of  mutual  interest 
that  engaged  them,  Horicon  walked  on  one  side  of  the 
young  woman  and  Marcellus  Hartley  on  the  other. 
The  lovers  had  learned  of  late  in  many  ways  to  trust 
and  esteem  a  man  who  brought  them  daily  word  with 
tenderest  interest  as  to  how  fared  the  solitary  Gov- 
ernor in  yonder  great  mansion.  Nor  were  the  lovers 
now  at  that  stage  when  three  is  no  company  at  all. 
They  were  far  beyond  that.  Their  possession  of 
each  other  was  absolute,  the  very  wedding-day  being 
not  far  off  now. 

"  Wait  a  moment,"  said  Captain  Horicon,  bringing 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  267 

all  hands  to  a  sudden  halt.  "  The  gun  is  about  due. 
There  she  booms.  Now  watch  the  flag  fall." 

They  stood  in  silence  as  the  stars  and  stripes  flut- 
tered lower  and  lower  till  caught  in  the  reverent 
hands  of  the  marine  at  the  foot  of  the  staff. 

"  Do  you  know,  Marcellus,  what  I've  been  trying 
to  persuade  this  girl  ?  " 

"  Now,  Charley,  please  do  not,"  she  protested. 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  will  now,"  he  persisted.  "  I  think 
that  she  and  her  mother  ought  to  go  up  to  Glen 

» 

Theron  and  lend  a  friendly  woman's  grace  and  kind- 
ness to  the  dying  old  man.  He  has  not  a  soul  about 
him,  except  John  Clarkson,  but  the  hired  atten- 
dants." 

"  If  you  only  felt  that  you  could  do  it,  Miss  May- 
field  !  "  exclaimed  Marcellus.  "  But  let  me  assure 
you  that  in  my  judgment  Hezekiah  Randall  will  not 
die  this  hitch." 

"  That  surprises  me,"  said  Hoi-icon,  his  features 
lighting  up  with  genuine  pleasure. 

"  But  that  makes  me  more  reluctant  to  go  there," 
interrupted  Dorothea.  "  We  have  no  wish  to  placate 
the  Governor  Randall  we  have  known  of  late.  If  he 
is  to  resume  his  place  of  power  among  men,  —  as  I  too 
believe  he  will,  I  can't  tell  why,  but  I  feel  sure  he  is 
to  recover,  —  he  will  not  want  to  feel  in  debt  to  us, 
and  surely  we  shall  not  wish  to  seem  to  curry  any 
favor  with  him." 


268  NONE  SUCH? 

"  I  do  not  mean  to  deny  that  he  is  a  very  sick  man 
yet,"  protested  Marcellus.  "  But  so  far  as  you  are 
concerned,  do  you  know  —  no,  of  course,  you  do  not 
-  that  lie  inquires  about  you  both  every  day  now  ?  " 
Marcellus  watched  the  faces  of  his  hearers  as  he 
spoke,  but  neither  Horicon  nor  Miss  May  field  seemed 
disposed  to  continue  the  conversation.  Horicon  went 
on  at  once  to  point  out  the  changes  he  proposed  to 
make  in  the  grounds  about  him. 

"  But  as  to  going  up  to  be  of  service  to  a  dear  old 
friend,"  at  length  Marcellus  persisted,  "  would  you 
go  if  he  sent  for  you  ?  " 

Either  might  reply,  so  it  seemed.  The  young  man 
took  up  the  burden  of  answering,  saying,  "  Why,  cer- 
tainly, I  think  we  would.  There  is  no  reason  why 
we  should  not.  Dorothea,  you  are  absolutely  sure 
you  understood  him  aright?  Governor  Randall  said 
he  had  already  destroyed  that  curious  will  ?  "  He 
wanted  a  witness  that  he  was  not  going  on  a  pro- 
fessedly kind  errand,  while  secretly  hoping  to  bolster 
his  own  fortunes.  Then,  too,  it  might  be  well  to 
appeal  to  the  private  secretary  himself,  as  to  a  matter 
of  fact,  though  except  for  this  chance  conversation 
the  question  would  evidently  never  have  been  asked. 

"  Mr.  Horicon,  —  I  beg  pardon,  Captain  Horicon," 
said  Marcellus  very  gravely,  —  "you  may  rest  assured 
you  are  not  Governor  Randall's  heir  by  any  will.  I 
would  to  God  you  were,  though !  Nor  is  Miss  May- 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  269 

field.  I  repeat  it,  I  wish  before  Heaven  you  both 
were." 

"  Why,  then,  Dorothea,  let's  go  to  him,  if  he  sends 
for  us.  Let's  give  our  word.  It  will  comfort  a  poor 
old  man  Avhose  days  are  few  at  best.  No  one  can 
now  accuse  us  of  plotting  to  prevent  any  change  of 
will." 

And  so  it  was  agreed.  Marcellus  Hartley  said 
a  strangely  abrupt  "  good-night,"  and  was  off  with 
their  spoken  assent  unchanged.  As  he  walked  along 
under  the  port  and  out  into  the  street  the  little  sec- 
retary seemed  almost  gleeful.  He  whipped  at  the 
fences  as  he  passed  with  his  Avalking-stick,  and 
talked  to  things  that  he  struck. 

"  I  say,  old  man,"  it  was,  in  fact,  a  hitching-post 
that  he  addressed,  "  Horicon  did  not  ask  me  why  I 
thought  Hezekiah  Randall  would  not  die  this  hitch. 
It's  because  he's  got  a  duty  yet  to  perform,  and  he'll 
get  up  to  do  it ! '' 

Then  a  moment  later,  addressing  an  Indian  figure 
in  front  of  a  cigar-shop  where  he  awaited  the  elec- 
tric, "  It  was  lucky,  my  boy,  that  I  was  not  asked  if 
I  knew  of  any  new  will.  If  I  had  told  him  that  Ki 
Randall  had  asked  for  my  father,  and  had  insisted  on 
my  attempting  to  sketch  out  a  will,  and  that  the  old 
man's  eyes  flashed,  and  he  said  that  he  could  do  it 
himself,  making  it  short  and  sweet  too,  by  next  week, 
that  would  have  been  the  whole  truth.  Isn't  thit  so, 


270  NONE  SUCH? 

bub,  hey  ?  They  shall  have  it !  They  shall  have 
the  fortune,  whether  they  want  it  or  not,  bub!" 
With  that  he  struck  the  pipe  from  the  Indian's 
mouth. 

"  Look  mit  mine  Indian  !  Art  mad  ?  "  The  cigar- 
seller  was  on  him  before  he  knew  it,  which  brought 
him  to  himself  and  his  pocket-book  for  damages. 

A  brisk  walk  soon  carried  the  secretary  to  the 
library  at  Glen  Theron,  and  his  toil  into  the  small 
hours  of  the  night. 

It  was  all  at  the  precise  moment  of  time  that  his 
father,  having  taken  Miss  Sampson  back  from  Beacon 
Hill  in  Boston,  was  continuing  his  love-making  by 
arranging  with  that  young  woman  for  Horicon's 
sinister  promotion. 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  271 


CHAPTER   XI. 

"  You  ain't  goin'  t'  die  this  time,"  said  John  Clark- 
son,  as  he  stood  with  his  legs  braced  apart,  and  hands 
plunged  deep  in  his  pockets  before  Governor  Ran- 
dall's easy-chair. 

"  No ;  I  expect  to  live  till  I  get  strong  enough  to 
do  one  thing,"  answered  the  Governor  feebly,  as  his 
eyes  wistfully  watched  the  morning  that  lay  shrouded 
in  the  August  haze  before  his  open  window. 

"  Right !  Man  is  immortal  till  his  work  is  done. 
That's  my  creed,  Ki.  You're  better.  You  took  holt 
o'  that  green  corn  o'  mine  well  for  breakfast.  There's 
more  of  it,  dear  friend.  But  d'ye  know  what  Mar- 
cellus  and  I  have  been  thinking  ?  We  ain't  no  doc- 
tors to  speak  of,  but  we  think  you  ought  to  see  folks. 
That  would  brace  you  up.  Lots  o'  folks,  poor  folks, 
too,  many  on  'em,  call  here  to  ask  about  you." 

"  Do  they,  indeed  ?  "  Instantly  the  sick  man's  face 
brightened  with  a  tender  light  that  was  pathetic  and 
went  to  Clarkson's  heart.  For  John  had  exagger- 
ated. In  fact,  few,  indeed  !  very  few,  had  called  in 
all  these  long  days,  except  on  business  bent. 

John  walked  over  to  where  Marcellus  was  writing- 
at  the  further  end  of  the  room,  relating  his  wrong 
story,  and  speaking  even  tearfully,  of  how  the  simple, 
misstatement  had  evidently  moved  the  Governor. 


272  NONE  SUCH? 

"  His  look  went  to  my  heart,  boy,  like  an  arrow  of 
conviction,  as  our  rector  says." 

"  But  there  have  been  kindly  inquiries,"  asserted 
Marcellus.  "  All  the  people  on  the  place  feel  heart- 
broken. Several  from  his  old  circle  of  friends,  the 
workingmen  whom  lie  met  again  down  at  Harmony 
Hall.  And  did  you  tell  him  that  Miss  May  field  had 
been  virtually  in  charge  down-stairs  every  day  now 
for  a  week  ?  " 

Clarkson  strode  back  directly  and  out  with  it. 

"  I  say,  Governor  Randall,  you've  got  to  see  folks. 
You  ain't  goin'  t'  die  here  like  a  rat  in  a  hole.  D'ye 
know  that  Miss  Mayfield  is  down-stairs  straightenin' 
out  your  house  ?  " 

"  God  bless  her  !  "  The  sick  man  sprang  straight 
up.  His  lips  trembled  a  moment  with  words  half- 
formed  ;  his  handsome  eyes  were  glad.  But  then 
sinking  back  into  his  chair  he  sighed,  "  Not  yet. 
Not  till  to-morrow,  or  after  I've  done  it.  I  don't 
want  to  see  Charley  nor  Dorothea  until  after  I've 
done  it.  O  God  !  give  me  strength  to  do  it  with  my 
own  hand  !  "  He  held  up  his  long,  thin  hand  in  the 
hazy  sunlight,  and  shook  his  head  as  he  marked  its 
trembling. 

"  You  used  at  first  to  want  us  to  send  for  Hori- 
con,"  resumed  Clarkson.  "He's  been  ready  for  a 
week  to  come  any  time." 

"  Yes,"  responded  the  rich  man,"  but  a  good  Provi- 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.          273 

dence  kept  him  away.  The  world  would  have  said 
he  influenced  me ;  and  the  courts  would  have  said  it. 
No,  let  me  do  that  first."  He  bit  his  thin  lips  and 
again  held  up  his  shaking  fingers  tentatively,  carry- 
ing a  teaspoon  as  he  would  a  pen.  And  so  the  mat- 
ter of  visitors  was  dropped  for  that  day. 

Marcellus  Hartley  was  now  thoroughly  in  earnest 
to  both  serve  his  own  sense  of  right  in  securing 
Horicon  and  Dorothea  the  estate,  and  also  to  pre- 
vent the  consummation  of  an  intent  in  which  he 
feared  his  father's  criminal  share.  No  doubt,  also, 
there  was  a  bit  of  revenge  to  be  wrecked  on  Miss 
Sampson  ;  for  though  he  did  not  dream  of  his  father's 
latest  step  with  the  young  lady,  he  felt  as  keenly 
as  such  a  nature  could  her  coquetry  with  himself. 
When  he  could  find  time  in  the  next  few  days  he 
had  frequent  conferences  with  Miss  Dorothea.  It 
was  necessary  to  use  the  utmost  caution,  he  found, 
lest  she  should  suspect  him  of  trying  to  entrap  the 
Governor  in  her  own  or  Horicon's  interest.  Her 
high-spirited  independence  greatly  enhanced  his  esti- 
mate of  her.  As  they  were  one  day  strolling  about 
the  grounds  Dorothea  suddenly  and  very  innocently 
remarked,  — 

"  Have  you  heard  of  the  offer  Charley  has  had  to 
take  a  fine  position  on  the  other  Road  ?  " 

This  was  startling  news.  It  showed  him  that  his 
father  had  not  been  idle.  Then  he  had  himself  no 


274  NONE  SUCH? 

time  to  lose.  It  did  not  suit  his  purpose  to  reveal 
himself  to  Dorothea ;  and  he  answered  evasively,  "  I 
presume  he  has  no  thought  of  accepting  it." 

"  On  the  contrary,"  said  Dorothea,  with  a  look 
of  surprise,  "  I  am  sure  he  will  take  it.  It  comes 
unsought.  Mayor  Body  and  several  of  the  rich  men 
in  town  have  interested  themselves  in  procuring 
Charley's  advance.  They  say  they  like  him  as  a 
citizen ;  and  Lieutenant  Sebastian  has  been  sound- 
ing the  praises  of  Charley's  tunnel.  Even  Dr. 
Oxford  met  Charley  on  the  street  yesterday,  and  in 
that  queer,  patronizing  way  that  some  clergymen 
have,  stopped  him,  exclaiming,  'What's  this  I  hear 
about  the  rapid  and  brilliant  rise  of  another  minis- 
ter's boy  ?  I  congratulate  you.  Give  my  old  friend, 
your  father,  my  love." 

Marcellus  smiled  and  remarked :  "  Dr.  Oxford  is  a 
politician.  A  twenty-five  years'  pastorate  among  the 
Broad  Street  aristocrats  shows  that.  He  has  several 
of  the  directors  of  Sampson's  road  in  his  church." 
But  while  he  rattled  on  these  careless  truths,  he  saw 
deeper  into  the  game  than  he  cared  to  express.  He 
grew  silent  trying  to  form  some  plan.  He  gazed  up 
at  the  bay-windows  amid  the  foliage  where  he  knew 
the  impatient  invalid  was  sitting,  and  the  thought 
escaped  his  lips  :  "  Oh,  that  Governor  Randall  could 
get  well  and  come  out  here  amid  these  health-giving 
splendors ! " 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.          275 

But  that  did  not  turn  Dorothea  aside.  She  pur- 
sued the  point  quite  in  earnest  now.  "  Mr.  Hart- 
ley, why  do  you  say  'Of  course  Charley  will  not 
accept  ?  '  " 

"  Why  does  he  not  stay  in  government  employ  ?  " 

"  Because  ten  thousand  dollars  a  year  is  better. 
Isn't  that  what  you  men  call  business?" 

"Yes,  Miss  Mayfield,  it  is,  but" —  He  longed  to 
speak  out,  to  tell  her  that  these  lawns,  parks  of  old 
trees,  parterres  of  flowers,  roofs  of  glass  that  stretched 
away  just  south  of  where  they  stood,  roofs  beneath 
whose  graceful  domes  the  rarest  flora  were  growing, 
all  this  elegance  and  opulence  lying  about  yonder 
mansion  with  the  mansion  itself  hung  upon  the  point 
of  a  sick  man's  pen ;  to  assure  her  that  he  knew  the 
purpose  of  that  invalid,  so  soon  as  he  could  hold  the 
pen,  to  write  the  brief  and  irrefragable  lines  that 
would  bestow  all  this  on  her  and  her  lover.  He  did 
venture  this  much :  — 

"  Because  mainly  it  would  totally  estrange  Mr. 
Horicon  from  Governor  Randall."  He  searched  her 
features  sharply  as  he  finished  the  sentence.  She 
looked  at  him  in  not  quite  indifferent  surprise,  for 
she  answered,  — 

"  We  shall  always  wish  to  be  on  friendly  terms 
with  Governor  Randall ;  but  really,  you  know,  every 
one  must  live  his  own  life.  We  must  ours."  There 
was  something  so  charming  in  the  way  this  innocent 


276  NONE  SUCH? 

young  heart  identified  herself  with  her  absent  lover 
in  the  use  of  the  plural  pronoun,  that  for  a  moment 
Marcellus  had  to  remind  himself  that  the  wedding- 
day  was  not  actually  passed,  but  only  very  near,  as 
they  had  told  him. 

"  Still,  for  all  your  really  admirable  independence 
in  the  new  copartnership  of  Horicon  &  May  field,  you 
do  not,  I  fear,  realize  what  a  loss  it  would  be,  speak- 
ing from  a  business  man's  standpoint  now,  if  you 
please,  to  have  Governor  Randall's  bitter  and  relent- 
less hostility." 

"  Bitter,  relentless  hostility  ?  "  Her  brown  eyes 
tried  their  best  to  help  her  express  her  astonishment. 

"  I  fear  you  do  not  know  much  about  business 
men,  after  all,  Miss  Mayfield,"  he  resumed  gravely. 
"  I  think  there  is  nothing  on  earth  that  could  so  rouse 
all  the  vigor  there  is  in  Governor  Randall's  nature  as 
competition.  He  loves  a  fight.  He  fights  fair  when 
he  can,  but  he  fights  to  conquer.  He  has  the  name  of 
unscrupulous,  bitter,  relentless  pursuit  of  his  business 
rivals.  I  think  I  do  know  that  he  carries  his  com- 
mercial pugilism  to  the  point  of  personal  animos- 
ity. Do  you  notice  how  few  of  the  great  millionaires 
have  been  here  personally  to  even  inquire  after 
him?  I  have  seen  only  two,  in  fact.  These  men 
learn  to  look  on  each  other  as  the  impersonation  of 
the  millions  they  own.  They  fight  as  animals  fight. 
When  one  of  their  number  drops,  they  are  secretly 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  277 

and  savagely  glad.  Oh,  I  know.  They  have  each 
and  all  wounded  each  other  brutally  in  the  process  of 
years.  They  have  grappled  like  mad  dogs.  When 
they  combine,  they  do  it  without  friendship,  but  to 
prevent  one  bull-dog  from  chewing  the  life  out  of 
some  under  dog,  who  owes  a  bark  to  the  rest.  Dol- 
lars never  love.  These  men  are  incarnate  wealth." 

"  Dear,  dear,  what  a  sad  sermon  you  preach,  Mr. 
Hartley  !  "  protested  Dorothea.  "  But  what  has  all 
this  to  do  with  Mr.  Horicon  ?  " 

"  Just  this,  Miss  Mayfield.  Perhaps  }*ou  do  not 
care.  But  I  know  that  Hezekiah  Randall  is  so  un- 
reasonable that  he  would  be  furious  if  he  should 
learn,  even  on  his  death-bed,  that  a  brilliant  young 
man  was  to  put  shoulder  to  the  rival  railway  system. 
Anything  but  that.  Why,  my  dear  friend,  for  a  long 
devoted  life,  this  colossal  system  has  been  to  Governor 
Randall  more  than  child,  country,  or  God." 

She  pulled  at  a  shrub  abstractedly  for  a  moment. 
No  shadow  had  fallen  over  her,  however.  At  length 
she  remarked  kindly,  "  Poor,  dear  gentleman  !  noth- 
ing earthly  will  occupy  him  long." 

"  I  am  not  sure  of  that.  Nor  are  the  millionaires 
who  know  him  best.  They  believe  he  will  live. 
They  know  how  he  hates  to  be  pitied,  how  he  resents 
any  reference  to  his  '  Hi,  there,  how  it  grips  ! '  They 
seem  to  me  to  be  men  with  a  seer's  foresight.  They, 
the  dozen  or  two  very  rich  men  of  this  country, 


278  NONE  SUCH? 

would  have  been  here  like  great  stately  condors,  had 
this  been  a  funeral  instead  of  a  sick-chamber.  Oh,  I 
have  hundreds  of  times  been  struck  dumb  by  the 
prophecies  of  our  millionaire  crowd.  I  am  sure  the 
Governor  will  not  die  yet." 

"You  are  in  a  strange  mood  to-night,  Mr.  Secre- 
tary," she  answered,  shrugging  her  shapely  shoulders. 
"  I  see  the  footman  down  by  the  graperies  evidently 
searching  for  me.  The  head  groom  persuaded 
mamma  to  take  out  a  pair  of  his  carriage  horses.  Of 
course,  I  must  go." 

"  Certainly.  You  always  used  to  have  the  stables 
at  command.  I  can  guess  you'll  drive  over  to  the 
Navy  Yard." 

She  blushed  rosily  and  answered  promptly  :  "  And 
if  I  do  ?  " 

"  Ask  the  Captain  to  come  back  with  you  and  help 
me  out  an  hour  or  two  in  the  billiard-room.  I'm  as 
nervous  as  a  hen." 

"  I  will.  Is  there  anything  else  ?  You  know  we 
are  here  to  serve  the  sick  man,  all  of  us.  " 

"Yes,  if  you  can  wait,"  he  answered. 

"  Walk  down  to  mamma  with  me  and  tell  me  what 
else  you  have  in  mind." 

As  they  dropped  down  the  path  towards  the  vic- 
toria, the  young  secretary  opened  his  other  budget 
rather  hurriedly  but  frankly :  "  John  Clarkson  and  I 
think  something  should  be  done  to  break  through  the 


THERE   WILL    TET  BE  THOUSANDS.  279 

melancholy  that  retards  the  Governor's  recovery. 
For  some  reason  he  has  not  asked  for  either  you  or 
Charley  lately.  But  now,  if  the  head  groom  and 
that  man  from  the  farm  who  seems  to  be  so  dis- 
tressed, and  any  one,  plain,  poor  people,  to  whom  the 
Governor  has  ever  done  a  service,  and  who  really 
loves  the  old  man,  could  come  in  and  say  one  of  their 
'  God  bless  yous  !  ' 

The  young  girl's  face  brightened  in  an  instant. 
Her  woman's  instinct  took  in  the  good  of  the  pro- 
posed remedy  at  once.  She  cried  out :  "  Yes,  mamma 
and  I  can  drive  to  Jamie  Lamoile's.  You  remember 
what  the  Governor  did  for  him.  Come !  "  She 
grasped  him  by  the  hand  for  a  further  tripping  flight 
down  the  rugged  stone  steps  of  the  path,  and  light- 
hearted  as  she  was  before,  grew  brighter  still  in  the 
pursuit  of  this  errand.  A  moment  more  and  it  was 
all  talked  over  with  Mrs.  Mayfield,  agreed  upon  as  a 
medicine  to  be  administered  on  the  very  next  day,  and 
the  vehicle  had  rolled  away. 

Two  hours  later,  when  the  invalid's  chamber  had 
grown  quiet  for  the  night,  John  Clarkson  came  over 
to  the  billiard-room,  a  pretty  little  structure  in  the 
garden,  and  conferred  with  the  young  men. 

"  Boys,  stop  punchin'  them  balls  and  go  t?  hoein' 
taters  !  "  roared  Clarkson.  "  No,  not  t'night,  though. 
Come  an'  set  down  in  th'  winder  an'  talk.  Put  on 
yer  coats.  Th'  breeze  is  too  much  for  shirt-sleeves." 


280  NONE  SUCH? 

But  the  young  men  laughingly  reassured  him,  though 
they  obeyed  so  far  as  coining  to  the  cushioned  win- 
dow, cues  in  hand,  and  game  left  behind. 

"The  Mayfields  have  got  that  little  Mis'  Holt 
down  to  the  house  now,"  said  Horicon,  "  and  Lamoile 
will  come.  There's  that  young  freight-agent,  too,  if 
we  could  get  at  him." 

Clarkson  put  on  his  spectacles  to  read  the  speaker's 
features  carefully,  but  there  was  not  a  sign  of  the 
young  man's  being  personally  offended  that  he  and 
Dorothea  were  not  again  asked  for  at  the  sick  cham- 
ber. A  frank,  kindly  interest  for  a  suffering  old  man, 
that  was  all  that  was  written  there. 

"  You're  a  brick,  Horicon,  reg'lar  Christian  brick  ! 
Gosh !  I  know  it'll  do  him  good.  Only,  ain't  ye  a 
little  fast  about  right  off  t'-morrer,  Marcellus  ?  " 

"  See  here,"  said  that  young  man.  "  Excuse  me, 
Captain  Horicon,  a  moment,"  and  he  led  John  aside. 
"  This  thing  must  be  done  at  once,  Clarkson.  If 
Governor  Randall  don't  get  well  and  strong  enough 
to  write  that  will  to-morrow,  he'll  never  write  it." 

"And  if  he  don't  write  it  he'll  never  get  well, 
sure  !  "  groaned  John.  "  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 
Whereupon  Marcellus  related  to  him  what  he  had 
just  discovered  of  his  father's  success  in  getting 
Captain  Horicon  into  the  rival  corporation.  The 
information  went  home. 

"  My  mind's   clear  as  a   pool  in  a   trout-brook !  " 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  281 

cried  Clarkson,  breaking  away.  Judge  Hartley  little 
realized  how  his  stratagem  had  worked  against  him- 
self. Clarkson  came  near  blurting  right  out  to  Hori- 
con,  "  You  ain't  calculatin'  on  the  Governor,  then, 
but  you'll  get  his  money  all  the  more."  Still  he 
refrained,  though  he  did  say,  — 

"  Boys,  it's  all  right  for  t'-morrer  rnornin'.  The 
fact  is,  I  ain't  no  doctor.  But  I  know  arter  a  man's 
seventy  years  old,  'tain't  no  drugs  that'll  ketch  holt 
of  his  framework.  If  an  old  man's  threatenin'  sick, 
it's  mostly  his  mind  t'ye  want  to  reach.  Good,  big 
doses  of  happiness  and  comfort  afore  and  arter  each 
meal,  an'  jest  afore  goin'  t'  bed.  And  as  often  as  he 
wakes,  a  heapin'  teaspoonful  of  pleasant  memories  of 
the  good  he  has  done.  That's  the  medicine  for 
age." 

The  young  men  laughingly  acknowledged  that  he 
ought  to  know,  bade  him  good-night,  finished  their 
game,  and  separated  for  the  evening,  after  an  hour  of 
play. 

The  next  morning  after  the  Governor  had  break- 
fasted, and  his  valet  Dennis  had  given  him  his  final 
adjustment  in  the  big  chair,  John  Clarkson  proceeded 
to  carry  out  the  novel  regimen.  He  said,  — 

"  Mrs.  Holt  is  down-stairs,  wouldn't  you  like  to  see 
her?" 

"  What  is  she  doing  over  to  Glen  Theron  ?  "  asked 
the  Governor,  his  features  softening,  and  losing  the 


282  NONE  SUCHf 

hard,  calculating  wrinkles  that  might  have  been  the 
result  of  business  thoughts. 

"  She's  settin'  now  by  th'  winder,  and  lookin'  the 
bright  clouds  of  heaven  in  the  face,  and  prayin' 
for"  — 

"All  right!  let  her  pray,"  broke  in  the  sick  man. 
"  By  George !  I  feel  better.  I  say,  Clarkson,  you  and 
she  ought  to  be  brother  and  sister.  Old  age  don't 
make  all  people  ugly,  does  it  ?  Say,  old  man,  you 
and  she,  for  instance." 

The  door  now  opened,  and  Mrs.  Holt,  trembling 
little  thing,  with  radiant  features,  came  slowly  for- 
ward, saying  sweetly,  — 

"  Age  has  made  you  lovely  to  us  all,  dear  friend." 

"  You  overheard  me,  did  you  ?  "  replied  the  Gov- 
ernor, rising  to  give  his  hand.  "Ah,  Nellie,  glad  to 
see  you.  Yes,  you're  looking  well,  a  great  deal  better 
than  when  I  saw  you  last.  You've  stopped  worrying, 
I  guess,  Nellie,  since  you  got  the  pension.  Be  sure 
to  stay,  won't  ye  ?  Make  us  a  visit  of  a  few  days.  I 
expect  to  get  out  again,  and  if  I  do,  I  am  going  to 
take  more  time  to  myself.  I  want  to  show  you 
around  my  place." 

"  Oh,  sir,  has  the  Government  ever  allowed  my  pen- 
sion ?  Now,  I  must  repay  you  all,  sir.  I  supposed 
it  was  you.  The  Government  " 

"  The  Government  be  blowed !  "  laughed  the  rich 
man.  "  But  you'll  get  your  pension  just  the  same  as 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  283 

long  as  you  live.  Be  seated.  I  must."  And  he 
resumed  his  easy-chair. 

But  again  the  door  opened,  and  Jamie  Lamoile,  a 
fine,  self-respecting  tradesman,  appeared,  followed  by 
a  veritable  delegation  of  good  cheer,  which  he  led 
somewhat  hesitatingly. 

"Ah,  Jamie,  don't  thank  me.  'Twas  Charley  and 
Dorothea's  doings  setting  you  on  your  feet !  "  ex- 
claimed the  Governor,  anticipating  any  speech-mak- 
ing. "  I  remember  your  face.  Come  and  shake 
hands." 

"  It  made  a  man  of  me,  sir,"  answered  Lamoile, 
swinging  out  his  hand  in  awkward  gratitude.  "  Just 
in  the  nick  of  time.  Saved  me  and  my  nest  full  of 
boys." 

Quick  as  summer  rain  the  Governor's  eyes  filled. 
"By  George!  I  feel  better  Clarkson,"  he.  said. 
"Jamie,  how  many  boys  are  you  raising  up?"  At 
the  same  time,  invalid  that  he  was,  he  whipped  out 
his  handkerchief  and  made  a  dash  at  his  own 
eyes. 

"  Five,"  replied  the  man,  with  voice  a  trifle  trem- 
bling. "  I  pray  the  Lord  that  they'll  make  as  good 
men,  sir,  as  you  are." 

"  Jamie,  you  ain't  straining  the  Lord's  resources 
much  in  that  prayer,"  said  Governor  Randall. 
"Who's  this?"  glancing  up  at  the  other  visitors 
in  the  rear. 


284  NONE  SUCH? 

"  This  is  another.  Sam  Ketchum,  sir,"  said  La- 
moile,  pulling  the  man  along.  "  He's  a  carpenter, 
sir ;  I  brought  him  along.  He's  another  feller  who 
Mr.  Horicon  set  up,  sir,  Let  him  have  five  hundred 
dollars,  sir.  Didn't  he,  Sam?  Just  like  a  lord,  to 
buy  his  shop.  And  here's  Bill  Hatfield  up  on  Main 
Street,  and  Tom  Franklin  over  on  Adams  Street,  and 
Abe  Norton,  who  ain't  here,  but  sent  his  love,  sir, 
the  young  marketman  at  the  corner,  that  we  know 
about.  Just  set  'em  right  up,  sir." 

"  Horicon  !  He  couldn't  afford  all  that ;  where  did 
he  get  the  money?  "  demanded  the  Governor  sharply. 
Marcellus  Hartley  was  quick  to  answer,  for  his  ears 
were  pricked  in  the  good  part  he  was  playing  at  a 
dangerous  game. 

"  Governor,  may  I  explain  ?  You  gave  Mr.  Hori- 
con two  thousand  dollars  bonus,  because  he  finished 
the  tunnel  without  destroying  your  old  trees,  you 
remember." 

"  Yes ;  but  I  supposed  he  would  pocket  the  most  of 
it,  and  distribute  the  rest  among  the  gangs." 

"  Precious  little  pocketed,"  said  Marcellus,  though 
he  did  not  add  the  reason,  that  it  was  at  the  precise 
time  when  the  Governor  had  made  his  proposition  to 
Dorothea,  as  will  be  remembered.  "  He  did  scatter 
some  among  the  gangs.  But,  except  .a  few,  most  of 
them  were  the  kind  whom  more  wages  curse.  They 
did  not  suit  Charley's  ideas.  So  he  sought  out  other 


THERE    WILL    YET  B E   THOUSANDS.  285 

beneficiaries.  He's  very  strict,  Governor,  about  tem- 
perance and  the  like." 

"  I  see,"  said  the  Governor,  getting  to  his  feet 
and  actually  stepping  out  to  take  the  other  visitors 
warmly  by  the  hand.  By  George!  I  feel  better, 
Doctor  Marcellus.  You  are  all  very  welcome.  You 
do  me  lots  of  good." 

"  Governor,  I  didn't  know  who  t'  invite,"  said 
Clarkson  as  he  bustled  about.  "  You  said  we  might 
ask  a  few  names  of  these  kind  of  folks,  but  I  never 
heard  that  Charley  knew  all  these  men.  But  Miss 
Mayfield  must  ha'  kep'  tally  for  him,  blessed  angel ! 
Wish  she'd  come  up." 

"  Blessed  angel  indeed!  "  was  the  Governor's  com- 
ment. "  God  bless  her  happy  young  head  !  But  no, 
I  don't  want  to  see  her  yet.  Well,  boys,  come  again." 

"  Don't  overdo,  sick  man,"  cautioned  John  Glark- 
son,  following  the  Governor  about  with  the  solicitude 
of  a  mother  for  a  feeble  child. 

"  Oh,  never  mind  about  me,  Mother  Clarkson,  you 
precious  old  Betty!"  the  Governor  went  on,  radiantly 
beaming  on  everybody.  "  I'm  set  on  my  feet  once 
more." 

"  Gosh  !  I  didn't  know  our  onguintum  thankarium 
magic  ile  was  goin  t'  work  like  this,"  cried  Clarkson, 
giving  poor  Dennis's  shoulder  a  resounding  slap. 

"  No,  nor  I,  either,"  said  the  Governor,  "  but  that's 
right.  This  setting  of  good  fellows  on  their  feet  is 


286 


NONE  SUCH? 


going  to  be  a  great  hit  in  business.  Charley  Horicon 
has  not  been  in  the  business  long.  Hain't  fairly  got 
started,  but  Charley'll  get  a-going  in  this  setting-up 
business  after  a  while.  New  kind  of  monopoly, 
hey?  "  They  had  not  heard  such  a  ringing  laugh  in 
that  stately  chamber  of  care  and  pain  for  many  a  day. 

"  There's  a  good  deal  of  competition  in  it,  though, 
Governor,  mor'n  you  think.  Come,  now.  Set  down 
and  let  John  Clarkson  tell  you."  The  speaker  got 
Dennis  in  league  with  him,  while  they  conducted  the 
invalid  to  his  chair. 

"  Hey,  John  ?     No,"  he  questioned. 

"That's  how  I  lost  my  money.  Old  bach,  that  I 
always  was,  'thout  any  children  of  my  own,  settin'  up 
my  two  nephews  in  that  store.  Oh,  there's  lots  of  it 
done.  More  lendin'  five  dollars  and  five  hundred 
dollars  atween  ordinary  folks  than  there  is  five  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  atwixt  you  millionaires.  Beats 
all  the  banks  in  volume  of  business,  this  poor  folks 
lendin'  t'  poor  folks." 

"  You're  right,  John,"  sighed  the  Governor  thought- 
fully. "Mostly  one  name  paper,  hey?  By  George, 
the  silly  fools  !  Why  do  the  people  who  have  noth- 
ing to  spare  throw  away  what  they've  got  on  each 
other?  Hi,  my  grip,  —  no  business  to  do  it,  ought 
to  lose  it." 

"  Kiah,  you're  gittin'  back  to  your  millionaire  ways 
agin,  and  they'll  make  ye  more  pain.  Why  did  I  "  — 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  287 

But  John  caught  himself  and  put  his  hands  to  his 
lips,  while  his  rugged  features  were  suffused  with  a 
blush,  as  he  added,  "  I  never  mentioned  it,  Ki,  in  all 
these  years/' 

"•  John,  forgive  me,"  persisted  the  Governor,  "  now, 
I'm  going  to  out  with  it,  I  am.  Come  near  me  all 
of  you  in  the  room.  Hear  me.  I  suppose  the  world 
wonders  why  I  have  such  a  liking  for  John  Clarkson, 
especially  such  a  man  as  your  father,  Marcellus,  won- 
ders. Are  you  taking  it  down,  Secretary?  " 

"  I  will,  sir,"  answered  Marcellus,  taking  out  his 
pad. 

"  Put  it  this  way,  then,"  said  the  Governor  with  a 
sly  wink,  as  if  propounding  a  very  difficult  problem. 
"  Why  Clarkson  likes  Randall?" 

"  Coz  ye're  a  darned  good  feller !  "  answered  Clark- 
son  with  a  growl  that  was  almost  a  sob.  "  Any.  fool 
could  guess  that." 

"Well,  no,"  persisted  the  Governor.  "  I  really  wish 
to  put  a  bit  of  my  history  on  record. 

"  Why  Hezekiah  Randall  clings  to  John  Clarkson  f 

"  Because  years  ago,  when  I  got  my  first  four  hun- 
dred dollars  together,"  and  again  he  thrust  away 
John's  hand  from  his  lips,  holding  it  while  he  went 
on.  "  'Twas  John  Clarkson,  a  boy  from  Maine,  almost 
as  poor  as  myself,  who  pulled  out  of  a  savings  bank 
four  hundred  dollars,  and  lent  me  for  my  start. 
There,  it  was  all  you  had  then,  John,  and  my  note 


288  NONE  sucu? 

was  one  name  paper  then,  too,  by  George !  Now 
the  world  knows  who  made  me." 

"  But  ye  paid  me  all  back  an'  int'rist  when  ye 
got  to  be  worth  millions,"  growled  the  benefactor. 
"  Why'd  ye  tell  on't?  I  never  did." 

"  Never  mind,"  answered  the  Governor,  "  it  oughter 
be  told.  And,  if  the  truth  was  told,  this  one  name 
paper  for  a  few  hundred  lies  at  the  base  of  about 
every  millionaire's  fortune  in  the  land,  except  he 
inherited  from  his  daddy." 

"  Ge-whitaker !  But  don't  they  forgit  it,  though, 
later  on  ?  "  asked  Clarkson  with  hearty  truth. 

"  Yes,  I  have  too  often  forgotten  it.  But  Charley 
Horicon  is  not  to  forget  it.  He  is  going  into  the 
one  name  and  no  name  paper  business.  He'll  be  a 
financier,  Lamoile,  who'll  a  good  deal  sooner  see 
a  deserving,  struggling  young  man  coming  to  his 
office  than  a  college  a-waltzing  in  with  an  art  museum 
on  her  arm." 

u  But  it'll  take  more  time  and  patience,  Governor," 
suggested  Clarkson.  He  stepped  over  and  poked 
Marcellus  in  the  ribs,  whispering,  "  Git  him  the  paper 
and  ink,  boy  ;  it's  comin'  now  I  " 

"All  fine  work  takes  more  time  and  patience,"  re- 
marked Governor  Randall.  "  That's  the  rub.  Why, 
I'm  feeling  better."  He  stood  erect  in  his  old  way. 
He  walked  over  the  soft  carpet  with,  comparative 
ease.  He  shook  hands  with  each  of  his  visitors  anew 


THERE   WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  289 

as  they  left  the  room,  and  his  voice  was  strong  as  he 
bade  each,  "  Come  again." 

When  they  were  alone  Hezekiah  Randall  sat  down 
at  his  secretary's  desk,  and  wrote  in  a  clear,  natural 
hand  this  will :  — 

"  I,  Hezekiah  Randall,  of  the  city  of ,  County  of , 

and  State  of  Maine,  do  make  publish,  and  declare,  this  my 
last  will  and  testament  in  the  manner  following;  that  is  to 
say, — 

First :  After  the  payment  of  my  just  debts  and  funeral  ex- 
penses, I  give,  devise,  and  bequeath  to  Charles  Horicon  the 
sum  of  twenty-five  millions  of  dollars  ($25,000,000). 

Second :  All  the  rest,  residue,  and  remainder  of  my  estate, 
both  real  and  personal,  I  give,  devise,  and  bequeath  to 
Dorothea  Mayfield,  that  now  is,  without  condition,  though  it 
is  my  hope  that  she  will  marry  the  said  Charles  Horicon. 

I  hereby  nominate  and  appoint  Charles  Horicon  and  Doro- 
thea Mayfield  and  Marcellus  Hartley  the  executors  of  this  my 
last  will  and  testament,  and  hereby  authorize  and  empower 
them,  the  said  Charles  Horicon,  Dorothea  Mayfield,  and  Mar- 
cellus Hartley,  to  compound,  compromise,  and  settle  any  claims 
or  demands  which  may  be  against  or  in  favor  of  my  estate. 

I  do  this  with  the  expressed  wish  and  desire  that  the  said 
Horicon  and  Mayfield  shall  not  seek  to  increase  the  sum  total 
of  this  estate  ;  for  it  is  my  belief  that  it  is  now  more  than  con- 
sists with  the  leisure  and  the  welfare  of  these  two  persons  or 
their  offspring,  should  issue  be  given  them. 

I  am  persuaded,  however,  that  these  my  heirs  will  make  it 
the  business  of  their  lives,  consistent  with  their  duties  to  their 
own  home,  to  foster  home  life  among  their  fellowmen,  by  en- 
couraging the  founding,  growth,  and  security  of  that  noblest 


290  NONE  SUCH? 

institution  on  the  earth,  the  family.  To  raise  a  family  of 
healthy  and  virtuous  children  is  the  noblest  errand  of  life.  I 
expect  these  my  heirs  to  mainly  bestow,  lend,  or  otherwise 
furnish  deserving  young  persons  what  small  sums  are  needed 
in  a  critical  hour  of  the  beginning  of  their  careers,  whether  in 
.  business  or  respectable  professions,  the  like  of  which  John 
Clarkson  furnished  me,  and  for  the  lack  of  which  so  many  are 
all  their  after  life  subject  to  bondage. 

I  wish,  moreover,  to  add  that  I  believe  moderate  wealth  to 
be  one  of  God's  greatest  blessings.  Its  comforts,  refinements, 
elegances,  and  enjoyments  increase  human  welfare,  stimulate 
industry,  and  present  natural  prizes,  struggling  to  attain  which 
worthy  youth  develop  God's  earth  and  their  own  powers,  and 
bless  all  their  fellowmen  thereby.  I  expect  their  good  sense 
will  prevent  said  Iloricon  and  Mayfield  so  neglecting  the  care 
of  this  estate  that  they  will  lessen  or  destroy  its  power  to 
enable  them  to  live  a  generous  and  happy  life.  May  the 
wealthy  God  add  his  favor. 

IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF  I  hereto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  this 
twentieth  day  of  August,  18 — 

HEZEKIAH  RANDALL.     (L.  S.)  " 

*  "  Let  me  do  that,  Governor,"  was  the  Secretary's 
quick  request,  taking  the  pen  from  the  Governor  and 
writing  in :  — 

"  Signed,  sealed,  and  declared  by  the  said  testator  to  be  his 
last  will  and  testament,  in  the  presence  of  us  who  have  signed 
our  names  at  his  request  in  his  presence  and  in  the  presence 
of  each  other,  as  witnesses  hereto." 

"  Here,  Dennis  Macarthy,  sign,"  ordered  the  Gov- 
ernor. "  No,  not  you,  dear  old  John  ;  you.  and  I  are 


THERE    WILL    YET  13 E    THOUSANDS.  291 

going.  And  you,  Dr.  Wilson.  By  George,  you 
opened  the  door  just  in  time." 

When  Dennis  and  Dr.  Wilson  had  witnessed  the 
paper,  the  Governor  settled  back  in  his  chair,  his 
hands  fell  nerveless  down,  the  pen  of  power  dropping 
from  his  fingers  upon  the  carpet.  The  physician,  in 
stepping  to  his  patient's  side  again,  trod  upon  it  and 
crushed  it.  "I  beg  pardon,"  said  he,  stooping  to 
pick  it  up. 

The  Governor  smiled,  stretched  out  his  long  legs, 
and  answered,  "  It  don't  matter.  That  pen  has  done 
its  duty.  Now  read  the  will,  Marcellus.  Read  it 
slowly  to  us  all.  Let's  see  how  it  would  sound  on 
the  stock  exchange,  at  the  directors'  meeting,  with 
your  father  in  the  chair  for  the  last  time,  by  George  ! 
—  or,  Doctor,  over  to  the  trustees'  meeting  at  the 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  A.B.  factory,  the  old  woodchopper's 
will." 

The  private  secretary  rose  up  and  read  the  will 
slowly  and  distinctly  to  the  close.  The  voice  grew 
pathetic  in  its  tones  as  it  went  on.  When  the  reader 
had  finished,  a  stillness,  as  gracious  and  healing  as 
the  flood  of  summer  warmth  and  light  that  filled  the 
noble  room,  held  them  in  thrall. 

Suddenly  from  the  east  window,  whither  he  had 
betaken  himself,  John  Clarkson,  bowing  his  massive 
white  head  between  his  hands,  uttered  a  great  sob  of 
emotion.  The  Governor  did  not  change  the  fixed 


292  NONE  SUCH? 

aspect  with  which  severely,  though  smilingly  in 
repose,  at  last  his  face  was  set.  He  must  have  heard 
that  sob.  He  must  have  caught  something  of  the 
low  breathing,  half -inaudible  prayer  which  his  pious 
old  friend  was  uttering.  But  he  did  not  move.  It 
was,  so  they  said  who  saw  it,  a  living  reproduction 
of  Vincenzo  Vela's  marble  Napoleon  at  St.  Helena ; 
yes,  even  to  the  broad  chest  uncovered  widely  at  the 
throat,  which  heaved  in  deep  feeling.  But  there  was 
no  clutching  at  the  side  nor  above  the  heart  now. 
This  conqueror  on  many  battlefields  seemed  to  be 
looking  far  over  the  roofs  of  the  city  that  lay  beyond 
his  park,  as  the  marble  Napoleon  seems  to  be  view- 
ing a  continent.  He  saw  the  distant  chimney  stacks 
of  his  industries,  the  towering  cornice  of  his  cathedral 
where  were  the  altars  of  St.  Mammon,  that  stupen- 
dous pile  on  Broad  Street  corner.  He  saw  the  stately 
flight  of  the  distant  vestibuled  Flyer,  "  the  fastest 
train  in  the  world,"  and  the  pride  of  his  last  few 
working-days,  as  it  shot  out  over  the  great  viaduct 
for  a  moment  and  disappeared  from  view.  What 
else  he  saw  who  shall  say  ?  for  it  was  prophecy,  — 
that  future  on  which  he  had  attempted  to  lay  his 
mortal  hand  for  good. 

"  I  fear,"  said  Dr.  Wilson,  reaching  down  to  take 
up  his  pulse  wrist,  "  that  you  are  over-exerting  your- 
self." 

"Leave  me  alone,"  commanded  the  lips  only.     "  I 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  293 

am  living  my  life  over  again.  It  is  to  be  better  next 
time,  Anna,  Robbie,  dear  little  lad  and  brave  soldier 
boy !  At  Gettysburg  alone  twenty-five  thousand 
sons  of  women  died.  Now,  homes  with  children  in 
'em  —  one  hundred  homes  a  year  —  a  thousand 
in  ten  years  —  say,  even  twenty  thousand  young 
fellows  set  on  their  feet  in  fifty  years.  Four — times 
—  twenty  —  thousand  "  — 

"  My  God  !  he's  dead  !  "  cried  John  Clarkson,  as 
he  saw  the  shapely  head  drop  forward,  and,  with  a 
bound  of  anguish,  the  next  instant  he  actually  had 
the  Governor  in  his  arms. 

They  placed  him  on  the  bed  at  once.  They  stood 
about  him,  the  physician  busy  long  and  laboriously. 

Marcellus  Hartley  did  not  wait  to  see  his  great 
employer  breathe  his  last,  if  such  were  to  be.  the 
result ;  but  seizing  the  precious  document  that  lay  on 
the  table  where  the  Governor  left  it,  he  rushed  from 
the  room  down-stairs,  bounded  into  the  library  where 
the  small  safe  stood,  and  was  thrusting  the  will  into 
place  when  Miss  Mayfield  accosted  him,  her  voice 
trembling  with  alarm. 

"  What  is  it  ?  " 

Shaking  aloft  the  will  for  a  moment  Marcellus 
replied,  "  You've  got  it !  You  and  Charley !  You've 
got  it  all,  whether  you  want  it  or  not." 

"  Tell  me,  is  the  Governor  worse  ?  "  she  asked, 
not  heeding  his  meaning,  and  in  fact  not  at  all 
understanding  his  exultant  mood. 


294  NONE  SUCSf 

"  Miss  Mayfield,"  he  added  soberly,  at  the  same 
time  locking  the  safe  with  a  click,  "  Governor  Ran- 
dall is  dying,  I  fear.  But,  oh,  Miss  Mayfield,  if  you 
only  knew,  as  I  know,  what  a  noble  deed  was  his 
last "  - 

The  girl  had  not  stayed  to  hear  the  sentence 
through,  but  had  disappeared  up  the  great  staircase 
like  some  pitying  angel,  to  whom  a  dying  hour  out- 
weighed all  other  calls.  This  sensible  woman  knew 
that  that  chamber  was  now  a  woman's  post  of 
duty. 

Marcellus  had  had  his  plan  arranged  still  further. 
Five  minutes  later  Mike  was  speeding  the  gray  mare 
to  town,  taking  the  secretary  to  his  father's  private 
office.  At  the  door  of  the  office  a  clerk  met  him  and 
said,  — 

"  Your  father  has  the  Mayor  and  some  aldermen 
with  him.  He  will  see  you  shortly." 

"  He  will  see  me  now !  "  exclaimed  the  young  man, 
stepping  forward. 

But  the  clerk  stopped  him  peremptorily :  "  You 
must  sit  in  the  ante-room  and  wait."  The  son  sank 
down  in  a  chair.  He  knew  the  iron  rules  of  the 
Cathedral  of  St.  Mammon  well.  Nothing  else  was 
there  for  it  but  to  wait,  though  the  door  was  ajar. 
He  overheard  the  Mayor  saying,  — 

"  I  ketch  on,  Judge.  Nothing  more  can  be  done. 
I  hope  Horicon  accepts  the  position.  As  chief  magis- 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  295 

trate  of  a  young  and  growing  city,  I  have  done  what 
I  could  to  get  him  in.  But  mum's  the  word.  I  can't 
help  thinking  how  vast  the  blessing  to  the  unborn 
millions  them  Memorial  Water  Works  will  be,  a-spray- 
ing  and  a-tinkling,  and  the  singing  birds  lodged  in 
the  branches  thereof."  Then  the  man  uttered  a  low- 
toned  yet  unmistakable  laugh,  adding,  "  And  such  a 
fine  job!" 

"  Now,  now,"  Judge  Hartley  interposed,  "  none  of 
that,  Mr.  Mayor.  If  this  estate  falls  into  my  hands,  I 
tell  you  fellows  plainly  that  I  will  deal  generously 
with  this  city.  But  jobs  —  well,  I'll  take  care  that 
you  chaps  don't  get  too  rich  out  of  it." 

"  Hartley,  see  here,"  exclaimed  another  voice,  which 
the  listening  private  secretary  recognized  as  that  of 
Alderman  Coffin,  "you  don't  suppose  that  we.  men 
have  done  our  level  best  to  get  this  young  Horicon 
out  of  Governor  Randall's  mind,  by  securing  him  this 
antagonistic,  fine,  competing  position  with  Sampson's 
crowd,  all  for  nothing,  do  you  ?  " 

"  I  am  to  pay  all  the  directors  whose  votes  you 
bought,"  Judge  Hartley  explained. 

"  Yes ;  but  who's  to  pay  us  ?  We  give  a  franchise 
through  Essex  Street  to  Sampson's  Road.  That 
alone  would  make  old  Randall  froth  at  the  mouth. 
He  has  paid  us  many  a  dollar  through  your  own 
hands  to  keep  them  out  of  Essex  Street.  Now,  we 
give  it  on  condition  that  the  famous  young  engineer, 


296  NONE  SUCH? 

Horicon,  is  to  have  charge  of  the  work,  etc.,  etc., 
etc." 

"  And  you  knock  out  Horicon  from  the  Governor's 
favor,  and  get  the  managing  of  a  great  estate,"  ex- 
ploded Major  Body  with  an  oath. 

"  Hush  ! "  said  the  Judge.  "  Don't  swear.  Remem- 
ber I've  got  some  clergymen  and  a  pious  crowd  in 
the  directors'  room." 

"•  I  don't  care  a  continental  whom  you've  got,"  said 
the  Mayor.  "  Them  chaps  are  after  money,  just  as 
much  as  we  are.  Get  down  to  facts." 

"Yes,  certainly,"  softly  acquiesced  the  Judge. 
"  But  these  pious  folks  ask  no  jobs.  They  are  work- 
ing in  the  interests  of  the  people  disinterestedly,  as 
the  custodians  of  struggling  institutions  of  learning, 
art  museums,  Glen  Theron  Park,  and  all  that.  You 
couldn't  cram  gold  dollars  into  Dr.  Bland's  private 
pocket." 

"Don't  try  the  cramming  on  me,"  said  the  Mayor, 
evidently  rising  and  slamming  a  door  beyond,  "unless 
you  want  to  lose  the  dollars.  Now,  Hartley,  we've 
got  to  git  right  down  to  hard  pan.  Will  you,  or 
won't  you,  put  in  them  Memorial  Water  Works  ?  " 

"  I  will,  if  I  have  the  management  of  this  estate," 
said  the  Judge. 

"  Second,  the  job  of  putting  them  through  is  to  be 
left  to  us  fellows.  Promise  now." 

"All  right.  I'll  see  that  you  squander  some  of 
this  hard  earned  wealth." 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  297 

The  conference  grew  savage.  The  politicians  re- 
sented the  insult  in  the  word  squander.  A  war  of 
angry  words  ensued,  lasting  for  some  minutes.  When 
Marcellus  could  endure  it  no  longer  he  burst  into  the 
room  with :  — 

"  Father,  even  now  Governor  Randall  may  be  dead  ; 
and  his  last  act  was  a  will,  drawn  this  very  morning, 
giving  every  thing  to  Mr.  Horicon  and  Miss  Mayfield ! " 

Every  man  in  the  room  was  on  his  feet  in  a  mo- 
ment. They  each  wore  the  looks  of  surprised  con- 
spirators, and  defeated  conspirators  at  that.  For  in 
the  next  breath  Marcellus  went  on :  "  Nothing  you 
can  now  do  can  separate  Charley  Horicon  from  Gov- 
ernor Randall's  favor." 

The  silence  of  the  grave  invaded  the  great  rooms. 
Now  that  the  long-expected  event  was  supposed  to 
have  taken  its  place  in  this  busy  world,  it  became 
strangely,  mournfully  impressive.  It  was  as  if  the 
silence  itself  had  opened  the  directors'  room  door 
beyond  and  made  its  own  momentous  announcement 
there  also  to  the  distinguished  and  reverend  men  in 
waiting.  The  empty  chair  at  the  head  of  the  direc- 
tors' table  fascinated  the  eyes  of  these  men  of  poetic 
sensibilities.  Dr.  Bland  saw  Dr.  Oxford  looking  at 
the  empty  chair.  Senator  Stanley  walked  over  and 
touched  it  reverently.  While  they  gazed  in  that 
brief  interval  it  seemed  as  if  the  tall,  majestic  form 
of  the  mighty  "  woodchopper  "  came  again  to  occupy 


298  NONE  SUCH? 

its  throne.  Indeed,  the  whole  great  structure,  stair- 
ways, wings,  chambers,  towers,  even  to  the  vaults 
beneath  all,  suddenly  seemed  to  contain  him,  filled 
to  the  exclusion  of  every  other  personality  with  the 
dead  Randall.  Men  opened  doors  to  see  it  sweep  in 
like  a  vast  all-pervading  wind,  this  presence,  Randall 
the  dead.  It  fluffed  its  wings  in  the  faces  of  awe- 
struck visitors  at  the  elevator  landings.  It  lay  like  a 
pall  on  the  street,  and  in  an  incredibly  short  time  had 
gone  out  to  set  the  very  train  men  to  whispering, 
"  Randall  is  dead !  "  But  it  was  only  for  a  few  ticks 
of  the  great  clock.  Then  living  men  began  to  think, 
and  ask,  What  next  ? 

Alderman  Fitzpatrick  remarked  honestly  enough  : 
"  Well,  I  always  liked  young  Horicon.  I'm  going 
over  to  congratulate  him." 

Alderman  Coffin  stroked  his  long,  white  beard,  and 
chuckled  to  himself :  "So  that  cake's  all' dough. 
Well,  the  Lord  knows  I  can  live  without  Memorial 
Water  Works,  or  anything  else  out  of  that  crib." 
So  he  went  out. 

"  I'm  for  my  post  of  duty,"  said  the  Mayor.  "  As 
the  chief  executive  officer  of  this  city,"  and  he  swelled 
to  remark  it,  as  he  gave  his  silk  hat  a  brush  on  his 
arm,  "  there  is  but  one  place  for  me  now.  I  shall 
meet  you,  Judge,  at  the  late  Governor  Randall's  resi- 
dence, no  doubt.  By  the  way,  Mr.  Secretary,  was 
Captain  Horicon  there  when  you  left  ?  " 


THERE    WILL    YET  HE   THOUSANDS.  299 

To  which  question  Mtircellus  gave  no  answer,  and 
his  honor  proceeded  to  ascertain  in  person. 

The  party  from  the  directors'  room  now  came 
slowly  filing  into  the  office.  The  Judge  was  not 
unprepared  for  this  alternative,  and  had  by  this  time 
recovered  his  self-poise.  As  the  gentlemen  solemnly 
and  reverently  appeared  before  him,  Judge  Hartley 
confronted  them,  not  asking  them  to  be  seated. 
Superciliously  pursing  out  his  square  lips,  he  pro- 
ceeded :  — 

"  Gentlemen,  the  Governor  wished  me  to  convey  to 
you  his  purpose.  It's  as  I  foretold.  Will  is  signed, 
Horicon  gets  about  everything,  he  and  Miss  Mayfield, 
whom  he  is  to  wed.  You're  all  triflingly  remembered, 
as  in  the  past,  I  presume,  but  nothing  more.  Yet, 
gentlemen,  our  young  friend,  Millionaire  Horicon,  is 
expected  to  play  philanthropist  towards  you  all,  I 
think,  and  the  rest  of  mankind." 

Dr.  Bland  strummed  on  his  hat :  "  So  this  is  the 
end.  The  mountain  labored  " 

"No,  my  friends,"  resumed  the  considerate  attorney, 
"  as  a  philanthropist  myself,  a  public-spirited  citizen, 
and  a  friend  of  letters,  I  am  bound  to  say  that  the 
great  causes  of  humanity  can  hope,  can  combine,  can 
look  to  me.  Observe."  On  his  fingers  he  counted 
off  his  plans.  The  forefinger  held  up.  "  Death  re- 
moves our  great  man."  The  next  finger  held  up. 
"  Our  young  man  is  fair  game.  Some  interests  may 
stand  ready  to  contest,  I  may  say  "  — 


300  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Of  course,  Judge  Hartley,"  said  Dr.  Bland 
abruptly,  drawing  the  Judge  aside,  "  you  understand 
that  a  great  institution  like  ours  could  not  engage  in 
any  disreputable  and  vulgar  contention  over  property. 
We  should  prefer  to  rely  on  Providence,  yes,  yes. 
But  if  it  does  transpire  that  the  old  man  is  proved 
insane  —  yes,  yes,  you  comprehend  ?  " 

"  I  see,  of  course  —  of  course  —  of  course." 

"  And,  Judge,  as  we  depart,"  put  in  Dr.  Oxford  of 
Broad  Street  Church,  and  most  honored  and  useful 
trustee  of  Alexander  College,  "we  think  of  all  the 
LL.D.'s  and  Ph.  D.'s  and  the  days  that  we  have 
endured  his  —  I  may  say  —  his  bucolic  manners  at 
various  alumni  suppers,  and  smoothed  over  his  wood- 
chopping  English.  Yes,  sir,  and  all  for  nothing. 
Why,  Judge,  I've  several  times  heard  him  say  dam 
when  he  could  not  have  referred  either  to  a  mill- 
dam  or  the  mother  of  a  colt,  sir." 

"  I  understand,"  replied  the  Judge,  smiling  in  spite 
of  himself.  "  You  trust  it  to  me  and  wait." 

When  the  worthy  men  had  disappeared  from  the 
room,  Judge  Hartley  was  left  alone  with  his  son. 
Marcellus  seemed  to  have  suddenly  taken  leave  of 
the  awe,  the  dread  of  his  sire's  displeasure,  to  which 
he  had  been  in  bondage  all  his  life.  Scarcely  were 
they  alone  when  he  broke  the  silence  by  saying  ex- 
citedly, — 

"  My  father,  I  swear  to  you  here  and  now  that,  as 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.          301 

the  recipient  of  Captain  Horicon's  uniform  courtesy, 
as  the  private  secretary  of  Governor  Randall,  and  in 
his  pay  as  you  were,  sir,  I  will  show  up  this  foul 
plot,  and  Captain  Horicon  shall  be  forearmed.  Gov- 
ernor Randall  was  not  insane.  This  city  will  get  its 
water-works  if  Charley  Horicon  lives  and  inherits, 
and  thousands  of  deserving  young  men  and  women 
will  be  the  happier." 

"  By  Jupiter  !  A  fine  plea,  my  hopeful !  What 
can  you  do  ?  You,  too,  are  something  of  a  lawyer, 
and  know  that  I  have  him." 

"  I  know  no  such  thing." 

"  Whats  a  will  good  for  made  within  less  than  six 
sick  and  delirious  hours  of  death  ? "  The  Judge 
rubbed  his  square  chin  calmly. 

"  O  Heaven,  let  him  live !  He  will !  He  was 
breathing  when  I  left  the  house,"  cried  the  young 
man  with  all  the  fervor  of  a  prayer. 

"  Well,  let  him  die  within  a  year  from  now.  His 
precious  relatives  from  England  "  — 

"  He  has  none.  Yo'u  know  he  has  none  !  "  exclaimed 
Marcellus,  fairly  stamping  his  feet. 

"  Look  at  that,"  said  the  attorney,  turning  to  his 
desk  and  unrolling  a  scroll  of  names  with  a  flourish. 
"  Do  you  suppose  I  am  going  to  be  downed  ?  And 
our  Courts.  We've  got  'em !  I've  got  'em !  And 
the  eleemosynary  institutions  mentioned  in  this  will 
for  mere  trifles  probably  will  fight  beautifully,  beau- 
tifully ! " 


302  NONE  SUCH? 

"  There  isn't  a  soul  nor  a  tiling  mentioned  but  those 
two  persons.  Father,  you  have  a  god.  Its  name  is  a 
dollar.  Dorothea  Mayfield  has  a  God,  the  Just  and 
True.  I'll  show  you  what  I  can  do  before  this  night 
is  over." 

"  My  son,  you  have  forgotten  who  I  am  !  "  thun- 
dered the  Judge. 

The  young  man  advanced  and  stood  submissive. 
"  Strike  me  dead,  but  I  will  reveal  your  purpose." 

"  Strike  ?  I  don't  use  my  hands.  Have  you  for- 
gotten the  score  of  men  I  have  removed  from  the  path 
of  this  vast  fortune  ?  " 

"  Reduced  to  beggary,  they  and  their  families. 
Even  Governor  Randall  does  not  know,  but  I 
know." 

"^"ou  needn't  refer  to  Randall.  He's  out  of  it 
already." 

"  Begorra,  he's  a  lively  corpse  at  his  own  wake, 
then,  do  ye  mind  !  "  suddenly  shouted  Dennis  the 
valet,  dancing  in  and  shaking  his  fist. 

"  Dennis  !  "  exclaimed  Marcellus,  "  what  are  you 
doing  here  ?  " 

"  Come  from  the  big  house,  me  boy,  to  tell  ye  the 
Governor  wants  ye.  D'ye  see  the  flag  ? "  and  he 
pointed  to  the  colors  still  flying  at  the  truck  away 
amid  the  green  of  distant  Glen  Theron. 

The  flag-flying  was  always  a  sign  that  the  propri- 
etor was  at  home.  Both  men  sprung  to  the  western 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  303 

windows  to  assure  themselves  by  the  sight  of  their 
own  eyes.  The  blood  left  the  Judge's  cheeks.  He 
bit  his  lips  squarely  down.  He  went  through  one 
of  those  lightning  decisions  for  which  he  was  famous, 
and  turning,  roared  out,  — 

"  Dennis,  telephone  for  the  assistant  corporation 
surgeon,  Dr.  Folger.  Tell  him  to  bring  detectives 
with  him  in  a  carriage.  My  son  has  gone  violently 
insane  from  overwork  !  " 

"  An'  is  it  the  telephone  that's  gone  a-fishin', 
sir  ?  " 

"  Insolent  flunkey  !  do  as  I  bid  you,"  fairly  roared 
the  attorney. 

"  Spake  the  word,  Masther  Marcellus,"  said  Dennis, 
with  a  queer  kind  of  hiss,  moving  sideways  tow- 
ards the  Judge,  "  an'  I'll  help  a  son  spank  his 
daddy." 

But  Marcellus  Hartley  had  left  the  room.  De- 
scending to  the  street,  it  did  not  mollify  his  indig- 
nation to  encounter  Miss  Hennie  Sampson  sitting 
in  her  carriage  at  the  door.  Dressed  with  exquisite 
taste,  she  sat  there  in  the  landau  behind  her  trim 
coachman  and  footman,  reading  and  waiting.  The 
vacant  seat  at  her  side  was  evidently  in  waiting. 
But  the  young  man  was  wholly  unprepared  for  the 
swift  descent  of  the  footman,  opening  the  door.  The 
lady  blushed  deeply,  though  she  gave  Marcellus  good- 
afternoon  ;  it  was  softly  uttered  and  immediately 


304  NONE  SUCH? 

accompanied  with  a  remark  to  the  footman  in  a 
lower  tone :  — 

"  Not  that  Mr.  Hartley." 

Marcellus  bowed  in  an  embarrassed  manner,  and 
jumped  in  with  Mike  behind  the  gray  mare,  flying 
back  to  Glen  Theron. 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  305 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  interior  of  the  fine  drawing-rooms  of  Glen 
Theron  had  not  for  many  a  long  dny  been  so  laid 
open  to  men's  eyes.  It  was  early  evening  a  week 
later,  to  be  exact,  than  the  events  previously  recorded. 
The  great  house  was  dimly  lighted  in  almost  every 
room.  It  seemed,  this  noble  pile  of  white  marble 
reposing  there  in  its  setting  of  foliage,  to  resemble  a 
jewel  on  whose  many  faces  the  gathering  nightfall 
afforded  insufficient  light  to  bring  out  all  its  hidden 
fires.  The  grounds,  also,  were  beginning  to  answer 
to  the  dwelling,  and  feebly  struggling  as  yet  with 
the  darkness,  hundreds  of  electric  lights  began  to  be 
visible  along  the  paths  and  drives,  in  grottos,  behind 
spraying  waters,  and  from  the  deep  green  secret 
places  of  rare  shrubs  and  trees.  The  last  offices 
of  preparation  were  being  performed  by  hurrying 
purveyors,  such  a  company  of  skillful  decorators  and 
caterers  as  Boston  had  not  sent  out  within  the 
memory  of  the  oldest  tradesman.  This  lavishment 
of  money  spent  would  be  historic  with  them  years 
away. 

The  artists  gossiped  with  each  other  about  the 
envied  young  groom  and  bride  of  a  week,  Captain 
Charles  Horicon  and  Dorothea  Mayfield,  who  were 


306  NONE  SUCH? 

to  be  greeted  to-night  by  such  a  "  Yankee  house-warm- 
ing," as  the  old  fashioned  speech  of  Governor  Ran- 
dall put  it,  as  never  before  had  been  given  in  Yankee 
land. 

For  that  same  evening  on  which  we  left  Judge 
Hartley  dumbfounded  before  -the  office  window, 
watching  Glen  Theron's  flag  still  at  the  truck,  there 
had  been  a  simple  wedding  at  St.  Ann's.  When,  at 
sunset  of  that  day,  the  flag  fell  as  usual,  the  Gov- 
ernor was  breathing  easier,  was  "  feeling  better  eveiy 
minute,  by  George,"  since  he  had  heard  the  kneeling 
young  couple,  man  and  wife,  at  his  bedside  promise 
to  take  up  their  great  errand,  as  he  wished.  Cap- 
tain Horicon,  after  hearing  the  will  read  by  Marcel- 
lus  in  the  sick  man's  presence,  had  answered  in  a 
simple,  manly  way,  — 

"  Governor  Randall,  I  fear  I  am  unequal  to  the 
task  you  lay  upon  me.  But,  unsought  by  me,  this 
duty  and  this  happiness  has  fallen  to  me.  I  once 
before  said  to  you  that  I  would  defend  my  rights.  I 
say  it  now.  God  help  me !  " 

He  did  not  know  all  that  that  meant  of  possible 
strife. 

With  every  added  day  the  sick  man  had  improved 
in  strength.  The  anticipation  of  the  "  children's 
return  "  was  "  better  than  demijohns  of  doctor's 
stuff,"  Clarkson  was  constantly  asserting.  And  no 
man  could  be  much  happier  on  this  earth  than 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  307 

John  Clarkson  in  the  preparations  for  the  house- 
warming. 

Marcellus  Hartley  had  feared  to  tell  the  Governor 
of  his  father's  purpose  to  fight  the  will.  The  ma- 
levolent excitement  might  more  than  neutralize  the 
benevolent.  Perhaps,  as  he  reasoned,  even  now  that 
iron  constitution  might  prevail,  and  he  would  live, 
be  better  able  to  endure  because  stronger,  when 
informed,  as  the  young  secretary  was  fully  resolved 
he  should  be  sooner  or  later. 

The  Judge,  however,  had  suddenly  changed  his 
attitude  again.  He  became  assiduous  in  his  atten- 
tions at  Glen  Theron,  accepting  the  situation  Avith 
apparent  submission.  He  was  even  now  pacing  about 
the  empty  rooms,  the  earliest  guest.  Encountering 
John  Clarkson,  he  remarked,  "  Well,  Clarkson,  I  see 
you  are  on  hand,  lucky  dog  !  " 

"I  guess  you  don't  feel  good,  Jedge,"  growled 
John.  "Ye  look  more  like  a  house-freezin'  than  a 
house- warmin',  sech  as  in  good  time  we  are  goin'  t' 
have." 

"  Old  —  a  —  gentleman  —  but  you're  a  privileged 
character."  The  Judge  decided  that  it  was  not  wise 
to  entirely  break  with  the  Governor's  favorite. 
Dennis  and  Kittie,  busy  with  the  room,  overheard 
the  two,  and  had  their  bit  of  amusement. 

"D'ye  moind,  Kittie,  —  privileged  character,  is't? 
It's  not  Hartley's  character  what  gives  him  his  privi- 
leges." 


308  NONE  SUCH? 

"  It's  his  learning,  Dennis,"  said  the  girl.  "  Learn- 
ing and  money  is  everything  in  this  wicked  world." 

"I'd  rather  have  John  Clarkson's  hoss  sense,"  said 
Dennis.  The  Judge  followed  leisurely  after  Clark- 
son  in  his  wanderings  about  the  rooms,  till  he  got  at 
him  again,  and  began  once  more :  "  The  Governor's 
really  going  to  venture  in  here  to-night?" 

"  Of  course  he  is.  I'm  savin'  it'll  do  him  more 
good  than  a  demijohn  o'  medicine,"  was  Clarkson's 
reply,  seeking  to  get  out  of  Hartley's  way. 

"  I  fear  our  venerable  friend  is  past  the  good  any 
medicine  will  ever  do  him,"  said  the  Judge  with  a 
mock  sigh.  "  I  trust,  as  his  bosom  friend,  you  realize 
that,  Mr.  Clarkson." 

"  Square  Hartley,  arter  a  man's  seventy,  'taint  no 
drugs  that  will  ketch  holt  o'  his  body.  It's  mostly 
his  mind  that  aches.  Whatever  will  give  him  peace 
is  medicine.  Pleasin'  mem'ries  o'  kind  deeds,  sir, 
and  the  good  he  has  done." 

Judge  Hartley  so  far  forgot  himself  as  to  sneer. 
"  The  good  he's  done !  Governor  Randall's  recent 
procedures  with  young  Horicon  and  his  wife,  for 
instance." 

Clarkson  squared  off  on  his  man,  thrusting  his 
fists  into  his  capacious  pockets,  however,  and  let 
drive.  "  I  swow,  Jedge,  I  believe  when  them  tew 
young  folks  git  here  all  shinin'  happy  ternight,  an' 
my  ol'  friend,  Kiah  Randall,  looks  on  'em,  and  his 


THERE    WILL    YET  HE   THOUSANDS.  309 

big  ol'  house  all  warm  and  bright,  I  b'lieve  when  he 
thinks  t'  his  money  done  it,  he'll  git  right  up  outer 
his  chair !  I  swow  it  utl  cure  me  ef  I  heel  the  rheu- 
matiz,  — an'  that's  the  wust  thing  I  ever  heel."  Then 
he  turned  on  his  heel  to  leave  the  man. 

"  Hold  on,  Clarkson ;  I  want  to  talk  with  you," 
persisted  the  Judge.  "  I  never  got  very  near  you." 

As  he  edged  off  John  answered  honestly :  "  Not 
ef  I  c'd  help  it,  Jedge." 

"  You're  a  study." 

"  No ;  plain  farmer,  formerly  in  the  boot  and  shoe 
bizness,  but  at  present  rent  in'a  small  farm  of  two 
acres,  rent  due  when  I  c'n  see  my  way  clear.  That's 
me ! " 

"  But  stay,"  said  the  Judge,  falling  into  an  argu- 
mentative posture  ;  "  do  you  mean  deliberately'  to 
state  that  the  sight  of  other  people's  happiness  eloes 
you  good?"  shaking  hu  fingers.  "That  you  par- 
take of  it,  so  to  speak?  " 

"What!  hain't  you  found  that  out  yet?"  with 
which  contemptuous  reply  John  left  him. 

"Found  that  out?"  mused  the  great  attorney. 
"  No,  no  !  and  never  shall !  There's  no  happiness  in 
the  universe  that  I  know  except  my  happiness." 

Dennis,  who  was  throwing  open  the  folding  doors 
preparatory  to  wheeling  in  his  master,  caught  the 
soliloquy  and  commented ;  "  Thin  there's  precious 
little  happiness  in  this  world." 


310  NONE  SUCH? 

Going  on  with  his  soliloquy,  the  lawyer  added: 
"  Now,  that  old  fossil,  Clarkson,  is  a  bankrupt  with- 
out a  dollar,  living  on  another  man's  bounty.  He 
cannot  even  know  that  the  new  heir  will  give  him 
his  back  rent  and  the  life  use  of  his  two  acres.  The 
Governor  once  told  me  that  it  would  wound  the  old 
fellow's  honor  to  state  the  gratuity  in  writing,  and 
he  would  walk  off  to  starve.  And  yet  how  stiffly  he 
carries  himself,  by  Jove !  Independent  as  if  he  felt 
his  worth.  Really  not  worth  a  dollar.  When  I've 
broken  the  will  I'll  send  him  to  the  poor  house,  if 
he  don't  die  sooner." 

Governor  Randall  afterwards  declared  that  he  did 
not  overhear  any  part  of  this  outrageous  deliverance 
as  he  entered  the  parlor  in  a  wheel  chair.  Dennis 
was  pushing  and  Clarkson  walking  at  his  side.  No 
doubt  he  was  too  closely  occupied  with  happier 
thoughts.  But  Dennis  caught  it  with  quick  ear. 
Governor  Randall,  very  feeble,  but  in  full  evening 
dress  and  as  eager  as  a  joyous  boy,  saluted  his  attor- 
ney with :  — 

"  Hullo,  Hartley !  Want  to  see  you  after  I've 
looked  around,"  and  passed  on,  his  attendants  wheel- 
ing him  all  about  the  rooms.  He  was  ghastly  pale, 
his  hand  often  at  his  side,  but  the  light  of  a  new  life 
was  in  those  wonderful  eyes. 

The  physician,  Dr.  Wilson,  stopped  by  the  door  to 
watch  his  patient,  and  chatting  with  Hartley,  said, 


THERE   WILL    YET  P.E  THOUSANDS.          311 

"Very  risky;  but  I'm  powerless,  Mr.  Vice-Presi- 
dent." 

"  Of  course,"  witnessed  the  Judge.  "  I'll  remem- 
ber your  protest.  This  will  finish  him  ?  " 

"I  fear  so,"  echoed  the  physician.  "Just  think! 
not  out  of  bed  but  two  days.  Pulse  faint  and  thin. 
Yet  he's  like  a  child  in  looking  forward  to  this 
night. " 

"  Doctor,"  the  Judge  held  Wilson,  corporation 
surgeon,  trustee,  etc.,  by  the  arm,  while  he  remarked 
significantly,  "  he's  been  a  mere  child  since  that 
morning  when  he  signed  the  will,  has  he  not  ?  " 

The  surgeon  hesitated,  looking  at  the  square  chin 
which  the  lawyer  was  rubbing,  then,  slowly  assent- 
ing, "  Certainly,  I  understand,"  with  which  he  took 
himself  delicately  out  of  sight  of  the  patient  who 
was  approaching. 

Meanwhile  the  chair  came  back  and  stopped. 
Judge  Hartley  was  promptly  bending  over  his  great 
master. 

"  Good-evening,  Governor !  I  declare  I  haven't 
seen  you  look  better  for  months.  You're  good  for  a 
full  century.  Remember,  I  always  told  you  so?" 
He  bestowed  one  of  the  squarest  smiles  that  he  had 
ever  used  in  all  his  square  life  on  the  rich  man. 

"Told  me  so!  Hear  that,  Clarkson?"  remarked 
Randall,  by  no  means  in  ill-humor.  "  But  what  did 
he  tell  others,  eh?  Hartley,  old  boy!  oh,  you're  a 


312  NONE  SUCH? 

good  one !  "  with  a  shake  of  the  whitened  head  that 
reminded  them  all  of  old  times. 

"  You  wanted  me  to  be  here  early,  Governor,"  con- 
tinued the  attorney. 

There  was  a  quick  flash  in  the  answering  blue 
eyes  of  the  Governor  that  meant  mischief,  while  he 
responded,  — 

"  Yes,  I  wanted  you  to  help  me  do  the  honors  to 
Charley  and  Dorothea  Horicon.  Thought  you  would 
enjoy  it,  eh,  Clarkson  ?  "  glancing  up  at  his  friend. 
"But  I  want  you  also  to  meet  Dr.  Oxford  and  Presi- 
dent Bland  and  the  Mayor  and  a  number  of  distin- 
guished people  who  have  been  looking  patiently  to 
see  if  it  was  a  coffin  or  a  fortune  coming  out  of  my 
sick-chamber.  I  am  too  weak  to  talk  much,  and  you 
know  all  about  the  will." 

"  I  understand,  Governor,"  replied  the  attorney 
submissively.  "After  this  happy  night  there'll  be 
no  change  in  the  disposal  of  your  vast  estate." 

"Looks  so,  don't  it?  By  George,  I  haven't  got 
life  enough  left  to  kick  a  cat,"  said  the  Governor 
between  his  long  breaths.  "  No,  this  ends  it, 
when  I've  introduced  Charley  and  Dorothea  as  my 
heirs." 

"  He'll  have  a  load,"  continued  the  Judge,  with  a 
sigh  of  pity. 

"  No,  he  won't,"  exclaimed  the  Governor  sharply, 
"  unless  you  make  it  for  him  !  By  George,  all  the 
business  runs  like  oil." 


THERE    WILL   YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  313 

The  Judge  hedged  at  once,  rubbing  his  chin  and 
remarking,  "•  He'll  be  elected  at  once  to  your  official 
positions,  I  suppose." 

"  In  due  time."  The  Governor  squared  himself  for 
a  grave  remark.  "  Now,  Judge,  I've  always  treated 
you  well." 

"  Munificently,  sir." 

"  Treat  my  boy  well,  or,  by  George,  he's  young,  and 
he'll  break  you,  hey,  Clarkson?" 

"Young  Horicon  has  got  the  ginger  in  him,  Gov- 
ernor," growled  Clarkson.  "  Quiet  ginger,  but  it's 
there."  How  pleased  John  seemed  to  be  to  praise 
the  coming  king,  nor  was  there  the  slightest  sign  of 
a  courtier  about  him  as  he  said  it. 

"  I  trust  I  have  been  devoted  to  your  interests  " 
the  Judge  got  in,  but  was  snapped  up  with,  — 

"  Yes,  for  forty  thousand  dollars  a  year.  Oh, 
you're  smart,  and  you're  wound  in  and  out  of  my 
affairs  with  complication.  But  if  I  had  my  life  to 
live  over  again  " 

"You  wouldn't  have  me?  Oh,  my  old  associate 
of  years,  let  me  not  hear  you  say  that  in  this,  per- 
haps our  last "  — 

"  No,  I'd  have  you  and  another  like  you,  two  of 
you,"  laughed  the  Governor,  though  there  was  a 
serious  meaning  in  it  after  all. 

The  Judge  forced  a  laugh,  and  rubbed  his  chin  in 
silence. 


314  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Yes,"  resumed  the  millionaire  ;  "  then,  instead  of 
eating  me  up,  you  two  would  eat  each  other  up." 

The  Judge  tried  to  laugh  off  the  thrust,  though  he 
detected  the  acerbity  in  the  Governor's  mood. 

"  Hartley,"  Randall  pursued  his  vein,  "  I  have  not 
showed  you  my  teeth  in  many  a  year,  but  I  am  not 
an  angel,  Judge,  as  you  are.  I  trust  you  when  I'm 
round." 

"  Hasn't  that  been  your  wise  rule  through  life,  to 
trust  nobody  out  of  sight  ?  "  The  Judge  would  try- 
once  more  to  parry  the  blow  with  tireless  courtesy. 

"  No,  sir,"  growled  Clarkson,  speaking  from  his 
own  experience. 

"  Be'  quiet,  John,"  objected  the  Governor.  "  I'm 
handling  him  now.  Hartley,  I'm  easy  about  every- 
thing in  the  future  except  you.  You  can  do  right, 
but  will  you  ?  What  a  tarnation  of  a  time  you  can 
make  when  I  am  gone  if  you  let  the  devil  loose  in 
you,  Hartley."  He  half  rose  up  in  his  chair  to  say  it. 
"  If  I  could  live  twelve  months  with  Charley,  I'd 
pull  you  out  of  the  whole  of  my  affairs  as  a  —  a  "  — 

"  Snake  outer  a  milk-pail,  Gosh  !  "  exclaimed 
Clarkson. 

"  Mr.  Clarkson  !  "  The  attorney  was  losing  com- 
mand of  himself. 

"Thank  you,  John  Clarkson,"  said  the  Governor 
excitedly.  "  Yes,  snake  out  of  a  milk-pail." 

"  Only  yourself   could  take   Judge   Hartley  from 


THERE  WILL  YET  BE  THOUSANDS.     315 

your  vast  affairs  and  not  entangle  them  in  ruin." 
The  Judge  took  shelter  in  wounded  pride. 

"  I  know  it,"  confessed  Randall ;  "  but  I  could  in  a 
year ;  and,  by  George,  Hartley,  if  I  thought  you  would 
dare  touch  the  will  —  Hi !  How  it  grips  !  —  my  own 
hand  drew  up,  I  would  live  a  year  more  "  — 

Governor  Randall  fell  back  exhausted  in  his  chair. 
The  surgeon  sprang  to  his  side  and  begged  everybody 
to  use  decent  consideration. 

"  The  gods  are  kind  to  Hartley,"  whispered  the 
lawyer  to  the  surgeon  significantly.  "  He  will  die 
within  twenty-four  hours,  I  do  believe,  Doctor." 

But  Governor  Randall  slowly  recovered  his  breath 
and  his  resolution,  notwithstanding  John  Clarkson's 
piteous  plea :  — 

"  Kiah,  Kiah,  you're  jest  the  same  as  my  younger 
brother.  I  beg  ye  t'  go  rest.  Do  it  for  those  t'  love 

ye." 

The  Governor  in  reply  looked  up  at  the  great  clock 
whose  gong  at  that  moment  struck  out  the  hour,  and 
asked,  — 

"  How  long  do  you  —  Hi,  hi !  "  his  hand  to  his 
side  —  "  say  before  the  train  ought  to  be  here  ?  I 
ordered  them  a  special." 

Marcellus  drew  near  to  inform  him.  "  The  train 
is  in,  sir ;  the  carriages  have  left  the  depot,  and  will 
be  here  very  shortly.  We  have  just  heard  by  tele- 
phone. I  wish  I  could  speak  with  you  alone  a 
moment,  Governor." 


316  NONE  SUCH? 

"  What's  up  ?  "  was  the  reply,  for  the  Governor's 
quick  eye  had  caught  sight  of  covert  telegraphing 
between  Marcellus  and  his  father. 

The  son  was  alarmed  by  the  Governor's  signs  of 
physical  weakness,  and  he  was  dumbfounded  at  his 
father's  exultation  in  the  same.  Was  it  not  then 
time  now  to  speak,  if  ever  ? 

"  Marcellus  !  "  protested  the  Judge,  with  warning 
gesture. 

"Something  of  great  importance  to  say  to  you 
alone,"  persisted  the  young  man  undismayed,  as  he 
bent  over  the  Governor. 

"  All  right,  bub.  There  ain't  much  body  to  you, 
but  you  always  had  a  clear  head  and  your  own 
mother's  good  heart,"  said  Randall.  "  She  was  a 
sick  woman,  and  just  now  how  much  you  look  like 
her!" 

"  Governor  Randall,"  objected  Judge  Hartley, 
actually  pushing  his  son  back,  "  do  not  trust  yourself 
alone  with  a  youth  who  has  inherited  insanity." 

The  Governor  stared  at  his  attorney  in  incredible 
surprise.  Then,  as  if  he  comprehended  the  situation 
all  the  more  clearly,  he  pointed  with  his  forefinger, 
and  added,  "  Go  into  the  library,  Judge,  and  take  it 
easy  with  the  big  bugs.  Marcellus,  sit  down.  I'll 
hear  you  pretty  soon.  There's  some  early  comers 
here,  friends  of  Charley  and  Dorothea,  whom  I  want 
to  see.  Cold  here,  ain't  it  ?  I  feel  chilly." 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  317 

"It'll  be  warmer  weather  now  't  ol'  Icehouse  's 
gone  inter  the  library,"  Clarkson  volunteered,  watch- 
ing the  retreating  form  of  the  attorney. 

"  I  believe  you,"  said  Randall,  laughing.  "  Those 
D.D.'s  '11  want  their  overcoats  when  Hartley  gets  in 
there." 

The  physician's  quick  protest  came  next.  "  It  was 
a  nervous  chill,  sir.  Excitement.  Certainly,  you 
must  retire." 

"No,  no,"  firmly  objected  the  host,  pushing  the 
physician  aside.  "  Dennis,  just  invite  them  near 
me.  Have  Lieutenant  Sebastian  and  all  these  young 
folks  come  around  me,  all  in  here  when  the  children 
come.  The  carriages  ought  to  be  here  soon." 

The  parlors  were  now  rapidly  filling  with  guests. 
The  best  of  several  great  cities,  far  as  well  as  near, 
were  arriving  in  the  long  line  of  carriages  whose 
lamps  glinted  like  fireflies  about  the  drives.  Who 
had  been  invited  but  had  come,  when  Governor  Ran- 
dall, not  dead  dog,  but  living  lion,  had  sent  forth  hi^ 
invitations  ?  Who  had  questioned,  though  the  invita- 
tion was  informal,  was  in  several  instances  telegraphic  ? 
for  the  millionaires  had  been  quick  to  explain  to 
their  wives  and  daughters  the  impulsive  ways  of  the 
oldest  and  greatest  millionaire  of  them  all.  "And 
it  will  not  do,  you  know,  not  to  be  there.  We  must 
go  as  certainly  as  we  would  have  gone  to  his  funeral." 

As   for    the   poor,  in   best   attire,  old  shopmates, 


318  NONE  SUCH? 

favorite  workmen  suddenly  remembered,  and  "par- 
ticular friends  of  the  children,"  what  cared  they  for 
the  brevity  of  the  notice  ?  The  reporters  had  hinted 
the  situation  to  all  the  world,  and  all  true  hearts  were 
promptly  there  to  sincerely  rejoice  with  "  the  most 
popular  young  fellow  in  the  town." 

The  air  was  full  of  music.  The  perfume  of  flowers 
saluted  hundreds  of  arriving  guests.  The  throng 
was  already  in  the  halls.  The  crush  would  soon 
begin.  The  venerable  sire  of  Charley  Horicon  was 
standing  at  the  arm  of  the  Governor's  chair,  and 
saying,— 

"  Governor  Randall,  do  my  aged  eyes  indeed  be- 
hold one  who  has  "  — 

But  the  Governor  with  great  cordiality  took  him 
by  both  hands,  saying,  "  Glad  to  see  you,  Reverend 
sir.  He  bought  the  house  for  you ;  your  son  gave  it 
to  his  mother,  he  said.  Where  is  the  old  lady  ?  " 

"  Too  feeble,  Governor  Randall,  to  be  present ;  but 
the  Lord  bless  you  !  she  sent  her  prayers  for  good  on 
your  head." 

"  All  right,  my  friend,  let  her  pray.  It  will  do  me 
good,"  replied  Randall  softly,  as  he  bowed  his  head. 
"  You  must  spend  some  time  with  us,  you  know.  I 
want  to  talk  with  you  more.  I  ain't  very  intimate 
with  ministers.  Been  too  busy.  •  But  you  seem  to 
me,  venerable  sir,  to  be  sort  of  sent  to  me.  Stay  a 
few  days  after  all  this  is  over." 


THERE    \V1LL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  319 

What  reply  the  aged  clergyman  might  have  in- 
tended was  wholly  interrupted  by  the  Governor's 
private  secretary,  who  broke  in  upon  them :  — 

"  Governor  Randall,  I  must  speak  with  you  alone." 

Leaning  back  in  his  chair,  the  Governor  replied : 
•'  Say  it  here,  Marcellus.  I  ain't  going  to  retire.  I 
feel  better.  Say  it  here." 

"  Before  all  these  people,  and  before  him  ?  "  asked 
the  pale-faced  secretary,  designating  his  own  father, 
who  had  again  entered  and  stood  near  scowling  upon 
them. 

"  Yes ;  let  her  drive." 

"  You  cannot  mean  it,  Governor  Randall,"  objected 
Marcellus. 

"  I  vow  I  do  !  Let  her  come.  I'm  ready  to  break 
with  your  father,  if  necessary,"  said  the  Governor, 
his  brow  knitting  as  he  caught  sight  of  the  Judge's 
face  and  restless  movements. 

"  Governor  Randall,  my  unhappy  father,  infatuated 
with  his  worship  of  money  and  encouraged  by  his 
long  lease  of  power  with  you,"  Marcellus  poured  out 
his  words  desperately,  "  is  plotting  to  break  your  will ! 
Captain  Horicon  will  certainly  not  be  allowed  to 
peaceably  inherit  under  it.  I  know  what  I  say  is 
true." 

It  canfe,  clear  and  ringing,  this  warning  of  an  hon- 
est man,  like  a  burst  of  storm  clouds  on  a  garden  of 
flowers.  It  came  in  that  sudden  silence  which  fol- 


820  NONE  SUCH? 

lowed  the  cessation  of  the  music,  which  had  been  the 
overture  of  Gounod's  "Wedding  March,"  and  when 
every  one  else  had  ceased  to  speak. 

The  guests  in  closely  packed  throngs  had  made 
way  on  either  hand  for  the  entry  of  "  the  children," 
who  suffered  themselves  to  be  received  with  at  least 
the  semblance  of  sin-prise,  direct  from  their  carriage 
and  in  traveling  attire.  Such  had  been  the  fancy  of 
the  old-fashioned  Governor.  None  were  so  com- 
pletely surprised,  however,  as  the  aged  host  himself, 
whose  chair  in  the  center  of  the  east  parlor  had 
chanced  to  pause  with  its  back  to  the  great  doors. 

It  came,  Marcellus's  startling  declaration,  at  that 
precise  moment  when  Charley  and  Dorothea,  radiant 
and  dutiful,  were  advancing  to  bestow  their  first 
greeting  upon  the  host,  to  whom  they  owed  such 
loving  loyalty.  As  Captain  Horicon  caught  Marcel- 
lus's  earliest  words,  he  paused ;  he  attempted  also  to 
detain  his  bride,  but  she  seemed  to  be  deaf  to  all 
voices,  save  those  of  her  woman's  heart.  She  saw 
the  Governor  thrown  into  intense  excitement,  start- 
ing forward  in  his  chair.  She  heard  his  voice  ring 
out :  "  By  George,  I've  had  my  suspicions,  and  would 
not  believe !  You  confirm  me,  my  lad.  Hi,  how  it . 
grips  !  Judge,  come  here.  Let's  have  it  out  now  !  " 

But  Dorothea  would  not  have  it  so.  The  sicken- 
ing pallor  that  overspread  the  angry  rich  man's  face 
seemed  to  warn  her  of  convulsed  and  dreadful  dying. 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  321 

She  fell  at  his  feet  with  the  cure  of  a  woman's  bless- 
ing. She  beamed  in  his  face  sweetly,  saying,  "  You 
beloved  old  man  !  How  beautiful  you  are  to-night 
in  our  friendly  eyes  !  We  are  come  to  make  you 
happy  many  days." 

While  she  knelt,  Horicon  advanced  quickly,  bend- 
ing over  the  Governor.  Horicon,  the  father,  still 
standing  at  the  Governor's  left,  and  the  young  man 
handsomely  revealed  between  the  two  old  men,  there 
was  made  up  a  tableau  which  we  who  saw  it  never 
can  forget. 

"  What  ?  How's  this,  my  children,"  cried  the 
Governor,  actually  rising  to  his  feet.  "  You  make 
my  heart  beat,  but,  strange  to  say,  it  don't  grip  !  I 
feel  better.  Where's  the  music  ?  The  Lord  bless 
you,  my  children  !  Clarkson,  look  at  the  pictures  !  " 
and  he  extended  his  hand,  pointing  with  his  forefinger. 
At  which  word  not  Clarkson's  eyes  alone,  but  every 
eye  in  those  spacious  rooms  was  lifted  to  the  portraits 
on  the  wall. 

"  It's  your  Rob  over  again  !  Yourself,  old  boy !  " 
cried  Clarkson,  in  solemn  gladness. 

"  Now,  Governor,  your  house  "  —  began  Captain 
Horicon. 

"  My  house  ?  "  —  echoed  the  Governor. 

"  Well,  sir,  I  was  going  to  say  that  very  soon  your 
guests  "  —  Charley  started  again. 

"  Yours   and   hers.     By  George !   why  don't  you 


322  NONE  SUCH? 

get  right  on  it  at  once  ?  "  demanded  the  Governor.. 
"  Now  say  it  right.  Say,  my  house,  for  it's  to  be  your 
home  now." 

But  before  Captain  Horicon  could  repair  his  sen- 
•tence  with  the  possessive  pronoun,  the  Governor 
caught  sight  of  his  private  secretary,  standing  with 
both  fear  and  favor  contending  in  his  bloodless 
features. 

"  Marcellus,"  he  cried,  "  cheer  up,  my  lad.  We'll 
make  the  hour  complete.  Do  they  think  to  get  the 
better  of  Ki  Randall  ?  We'll  see  !  " 

Instantly  Judge  Hartley  was  ready.  Stepping  for- 
ward with  the  desperation  that  alone  befitted  this  his 
last  play  in  a  wicked  game,  he  spoke  to  any  who 
might  hear :  — 

"  Friends,  this  is,  indeed,  a  sad  hour  for  me.  Pity 
me  and  help  me,  neighbors.  My  only  son  out  of  his 
head  !  And  now  yonder,  that  fine  mind,  once  Gov- 
ernor of  this  great  State,  architect  of  this  colossal 
fortune,  a  wreck  !  " 

When  this  audacious  declaration  had  struck  every 
hearer  dumb,  he  boldly  added:  "Neighbors,  Governor 
Randall  has  been  mentally  incompetent  for  months, 
as  you  see  him  now." 

There  is  a  difference  between  the  worship  of  money 
and  the  worship  of  business.  No  doubt  both  are 
idolatrous.  But  the  former  is  that  "  love  "  which 
the  divine  speech  has  pronounced  "  the  root  of  all 


THERE   WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  323 

evil,"  the  miser's  secret  passion,  and  the  alchemist's 
demon.  It  cannot  suffer  any  generous  wish  or  noble 
thought  to  dwell  in  the  same  bosom  with  itself. 
This  Avas  the  blight  of  strong  manhood  which  Miss 
Hennie  Sampson  saw  written  on  the  features  of  the 
great  lawyer.  She  stood  in  the  throng  by  her 
father's  side.  Her  sensible  mother,  who  stood  at 
her  back  by  the  corner  of  the  piano  there,  had  been 
whispering  plain  Yankee  comments  for  some  minutes, 
evidently,  if  one  could  judge  by  the  emphasis  with 
which  her  maternal  fan  had  been  tapping  the  daugh- 
ter's shoulder.  It  has  been  since  then  declared  by 
her  friends  that  it  was  at  the  house-warming  that  she 
read,  with  an  alarm  that  saved  her  young  life,  the 
misery  that  the  old  idolater  Hartley  displayed  in 
every  word  of  his  frantic,  desperate  speech.  Miss 
Sampson  surely  could  not  but  see  a  different  effect 
in  the  mind  of  "  our  great  man,"  Governor  Randall. 
Pursuing  affairs  u  to  see  them  grow,"  as  he  often 
expressed  it,  he  had  yet  not  been  totally  broken  in 
natural  affection,  nor  blinded  to  the  good,  the  beauti- 
ful, and  the  true.  She  philosophized  that  a  million- 
aire might  have  been  a  happier  man  if  he  had  long 
ago  pursued  some  other  human  interests  besides  his 
own.  She  would  not  have  been  herself  if  not  criti- 
cal and  philosophical.  But  "  Governor  Randall  was 
not  a  ruined  soul,"  and  she  decided  then  and  there 
that  Judge  Hartley  was. 


324  NONE   SUCH? 

There  stood  Governor  Randall  as  erect  as  in  his 
prime.  His  illness  seemed  to  have  been  burned 
to  ashes  by  the  fires  of  indignation  that  flashed 
from  his  blue  eyes.  The  shapely  features  glowed 
with  the  warm  color  of  youthful  vitality.  He 
stepped  away  from  his  chair  till  he  appeared  fully 
revealed,  with  his  towering  stature  more  than  equal- 
ing the  tallest,  and  by  his  spirit,  or  the  wonder  of 
the  transformation,  seeming  to  us  all  a  majestic  per- 
sonage defending  those  whom  his  old  heart  loved 
better  than  life.  At  first  we  looked  to  see  him  fall. 
We  feared  his  instant  death.  But,  no,  he  stood 
strong.  It  was  life  and  not  death. 

"  They  will  trifle  with  my  last  purpose,  will  they  ?  " 
cried  he.  "  They  will,  perhaps,  say  that  I  am  not  of 
sound  mind  and  able  to  dispose.  Ask  me  a  question 
of  the  minutest  detail  of  all  my  vast  affairs  that  I 
cannot  now  answer  with  intelligence.  To-morrow  is 
directors'  meeting.  I'll  be  there,  Hartley,  at  the 
head  of  the  table.  I  am  well  again,  dear  child,"  and 
he  put  his  hand  caressingly  on  Dorothea's  head,  as 
she  clung  to  his  side. 

"  Ge-whitaker  !  "  shouted  John  Clarkson.  "  A 
dose  of  happy  deeds  is  curin'  him  surer'n  a  dose  o' 
paris  green  on  my  taters  kills  the  bugs."  At  which 
eccentric  comment  on  things  the  company  would 
have  broken  into  cheers,  except  that  the  Governor's 
imposing  attitude  foreboded  serious  business  yet  to 
follow,  and  commanded  attention. 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  325 

"  They'll  fight  over  my  will,  eh,  and  grow  fat  over 
the  carcass  ?  I  am  able  yet  to  make  a  plan  and  exe- 
cute it  in  the  teeth  of  a  crisis,  friends.  I  guess  that's 
been  a  characteristic  of  Hezekiah  Randall  all  the  way 
through,  and  ought  to  prove  that  I'm  still  myself. 
Marcellus,  you  will  find  a  bundle  of  blank  deeds  in 
my  desk  in  the  library,  such  as  we  used  when  we 
.sold  those  lots  on  Bascom  Street.  Fill  one  out  at 
once.  Describe  this  estate,  Glen  Theron,  as  briefly 
as  you  can  in  haste,  adding  for  further  description 
of  which  see  map  on  file  at  the  County  Clerk's  office. 
For  one  dollar  and  other  valuable  considerations, 
deed  this  estate  to  Charles  Horicon.  I'll  sign  and 
ncknowledge  it  in  the  next  twenty  minutes  if  I  live, 
and  I  reckon  I  shall.  We'll  see  what  can  be  done 
with  a  living  hand.  Perhaps,  gentlemen,  some  of 
you  heavy  men  here  may  take  a  leaf  out  of  my 
book  and  go  home  to  be  your  own  executors.  And, 
Dennis  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sirrah,"  responded  the  valet,  slipping  to  his 
master's  side,  yet  casting  a  threatening  look  towards 
Judge  Hartley.  "  Shall  I  help  him  out,  your  Ixcil- 
lincy?" 

"You  step  over  with  John  Clarkson,  while  Mar- 
cellus is  writing ;  and,  John  —  you  know  the  com- 
bination of  this  one.  Open  the  safe,  boys.  This  is 
only  one  of  them,  for  a  few  things  handy,  but  there's 
some  stuff  in  there." 


326  NONE  SUCH? 

Before  our  astonished  eyes  Dennis  pushed  back  a 
portiere  over  a  handsome  safe  deposit  door  built  into 
the  wall  between  the  east  parlor  and  the  dining-room, 
across  which  was  written  in  gilt  filigree,  fresh  in  its 
color  of  a  day,  "  CHAE.LES  HORICON."  The  Gov- 
ernor proudly  pointed  to  it,  shouting,  — 

"  Read  the  owner's  name.  Now  let's  see  what  the 
courts  will  do,  if  I  die  in  five  minutes."  There  was 
the  savage  spirit  of  a  tiger  in  the  man  who  had  come 
so  near  suffering  a  great  wrong.  It  may  be  that  in 
his  just  anger  men  on  earth  should  read  what  men 
departed  feel,  when,  defenseless,  their  survivors  rob 
the  sweet  intent  of  their  last  will  while  here. 

"  Hoss  sense,  by  Gosh !  Ef  any  man  wants  any- 
thing done,  let  him  do  it  himself,"  exclaimed  Clark- 
son,  springing  eagerly  to  obey. 

"  Bring  'em  out,  John,  bring  out  the  tin  boxes," 
ordered  the  Governor.  "Bring  me  pen  and  ink. 
The  Doctor  says  this  night'll  kill  me.  Very  well. 
Empty  out  some  things  on  this  table.  Let  me  die 
handling  my  own  stuff."  With  that  he  swept  his 
hands  across  the  great  center  table,  clearing  it  of 
bric-a-brac  with  a  crash.  He  seated  himself,  and 
spreading  out  his  hands  expectantly,  exclaimed,  — 

"  Hartley,  old  boy,  now  let's  see  what  we  can  do, 
if  I  die  in  an  hour.  It's  all  mine  now.  That's  sure. 
And  I've  a  right  to  do  what  I  please  with  my  own." 

Meanwhile  the  willing  hands  of  Dennis  and  John 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE    THOUSANDS.  327 

Clarkson  began  to  deposit  boxes  of  securities  on  the 
table,  and  at  the  Governor's  side. 

"  Them's  Chicago  and  North-west,"  he  cried,  open- 
ing the  boxes.  "  Turn  'em  down,  so  that  I  can  sign 
transfer  to  Charles  Horicon.  What  a  man  does  with 
his  living  hand  is  done." 

Then  the  great  throng  broke  into  such  a  merry 
clapping  of  happy  hands  and  fluttering  salute  of 
handkerchiefs  held  high  in  air,  as  never  before 
greeted  fche  transfer  of  a  vast  estate.  The  music  for 
once  was  sensible  and  came  in  aptly  of  its  own  voli- 
tion, for  no  one  had  ordered  its  helpful  strains.  The 
well-dressed  crush  of  people  turned  every  man  to  his 
neighbor  with  congratulations. 

No,  not  every  one,  of  course.  Not  the  Mayor,  nor 
the  aldermen,  nor  trustees  of  this  and  that,  all  benevo- 
lently disposed  men  who  loved  the  brick  and  mortar 
of  their  charges  better  than  they  ever  loved  a  living 
man,  and  believed  in  the  old  bungling  fashions  still. 

But  to  most  people  it  seemed  as  if  that  bent  white 
head  had  again  thought  out  a  way  to  live  to  suit  itself, 
to  get  advantage  of  a  blundering  world  when  laid 
low  in  its  grave,  in  spite  of  the  old  fashion.  And 
many  an  onlooker  watched  that  flying  pen  as  it 
struck  the  thumbed  backs  of  stocks  and  bonds  with  a 
new  owner's  name,  as  if  the  happy  fortune  was  his 
own.  So  had  Charles  Horicon  and  his  bride  made 
friends  in  the  little  city  and  beyond. 


328  NONE  SUCH? 

At  length  the  music  ceased.  The  gleeful  players 
must  themselves  have  caught  sight  of  Marcellus,  the 
trusted  secretary,  as  he  dashed  along  the  hall  from 
the  library,  holding  aloft  the  deed  in  his  hand.  It 
was  as  if  the  supreme  moment  of  this  evening's 
novel  entertainment  had  arrived.  The  Governor 
straightened  back  in  his  chair  to  draw  a  long  breath, 
and  say,  — 

"  No  probate  judge  fingering  mine,  contrary  to  my 
wishes,  please.  Am  I  very,  very  crazy  ?  Ah,  Mar- 
cellus, let's  have  it.  You  are  a  commissioner  of 
deeds."  The  Governor  ran  his  eye  rapidly  over  the 
document,  folded  it  down,  signed  it,  handed  it  to  the 
secretary  for  acknowledgment,  to  Lieutenant  Sebas- 
tian for  witnessing,  and  then  rose  to  his  feet,  say- 
ing.— 

"  If  you  want  anything  done,  do  it  yourself. 
Here,  Dorothea,  my  daughter,  your  dower  is  in  your 
husband's  home.  God  bless  you  here,  even  more 
than  he  ever  did  my  Anna  and  my  boy  and  me  in 
our  far  humbler  home." 

Dorothea  protested  something  of  her  unworthi- 
ness,  and  flung  her  arms  about  the  old  man,  as  he 
folded  her  head  against  his  bosom,  bending  till  his 
white  hair  mingled  with  her  brown  locks. 

"  You  will  get  used  to  calling  it  home,  my  chil- 
dren," he  said ;  "  used  to  the  business  of  making  lots 
of  people  happy  here.  I  wasn't." 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE   THOUSANDS.  329 

He  coughed,  and  seemed  to  lose  his  voice  for  a 
moment.  Horicon  stepped  near  to  support  him. 
The  old  man  recovered  soon,  and  kindled  with  his 
speech:  "Yes,  Charley  and  Dorothy,  you'll  build 
more  roads,  erect  more  fountains,  give  away  the 
flowers.  You'll  open  the  doors  of  the  old  house. 
I  pray  God  to  bless  this  home  with  children,  else  it 
is  no  home.  Spend  your  money  here  —  lots  of  it; 
make  the  old  town  like  Paradise.  Your  wealth  is 
too  much.  Give  it  away,  away,  till  ye  get  down  to 
some  comfort.  Especially  remember  this  —  setting 
good  fellows  on  their  feet.  Loan  it,  expecting  nothing 
in  return.  Does  that  sound  crazy,  Clarkson  ?  " 

But  John  Clarkson  could  not  speak.  While  he 
was  mopping  his  old  eyes  and  making  ready,  the 
Governor  added,  "  Neighbors,  it  will  take  another 
year  to  do  it  well." 

"  Please  Heaven,  it  takes  you  ten  years  more, 
sir !  "  said  Captain  Horicon  with  bowed  head, 
while  the  Governor  touched  him  caressingly  on 
the  shoulder. 

"  Put  'em  back,  boys.  I'll  transfer  all  of  them  in 
the  next  three  weeks.  There  are  other  safes  down 
town  too.  But  my  children  are  rich  enough  now  to 
secure  them  against  hyenas  who  pick  at  dead  men's 
bones.  I'll  live  another  year  and  finish  my  job,  how- 
ever. I  feel  as  if  I  had  taken  a  big  dose  of  a  strange 
medicine  and  was  well  again." 


330  NONE  SUCH? 

"  Hooray,  whoop !  "  sobbed  or  cheered  John  Clark- 
son.  "  Hartley  said  it  would  take  another  year  to 
pull  the  snake  out  o'  th'  pail  o'  milk.  But  you'll  do 
it." 

"  I'll  begin  now,"  said  the  Governor,  sternly 
resolved.  "  Judge  Hartley,  I  want  your  resigna- 
tion." 

The  Judge's  square  mouth  actually  gasped  :  "  By 
Jove  !  Is  it  a  miracle  ?  " 

"  No,  not  a  miracle,"  said  Dorothea,  softly  and 
sweetly,  but  loud  enough  for  all  to  hear.  "  Rather, 
the  old,  old  truth,  that  in  attempting,  in  future  years, 
to  set  thousands  of  others  on  their  feet,  he  has  got  to 
his  own  feet  first." 

"  That's  so,  as  young  as  any  of  them,"  responded 
the  Governor,  turning  up  her  gentle  face  and  kissing 
it  before  all.  "And  now,  my  little  girl,  I  think  if 
you  and  Charley  will  agree,  we'll  lead  the  dance  just 
as  we  used  to  do,  up  in  old  Aroostook  County." 
Which  he  actually  did  so  far  as  taking  his  place  for  a 
few  moments  as  the  set  was  forming. 

Nor  was  his  God  then  pleased  to  take  him  from  this 
world.  Three  years  later,  when  Governor  Randall 
was  carried  to  his  long  home,  he  had  quite  "  finished 
the  job  a  living  hand  should  do."  He  had  exe- 
cuted that  identical  will.  "  His  children  "  possessed 
his  all. 

But  he  had  seen  the  beginnings  of  a  benevolence 


THERE    WILL    YET  BE  THOUSANDS.  331 

held  by  Captain  and  Mrs.  Horicon  as  a  holy,  happy 
commission. 

His  quaint  "  ciphering  in  multiplication  "  the 
governor  was  never  tired  of  conning  on  those  long, 
thin  fingers  to  the  last.  "  One  young  life,  head  of 
a  family  of  five,  say,  in  that  noblest  thing  on  earth, 
a  Christian  home.  Then  each  child  sent  out  well 
fixed  to  repeat  the  result,  on  and  on.  All  first  made- 
possible  by  a  little  spatter  of  my  money." 

Whenever  Captain  Horicon  discovered  a  life  worth 
investing  in,  often  after  long  and  patient  search,  and, 
returning  to  Glen  Theron,  reported  to  the  aged 
watcher  by  the  sunlit  window,  "  We  have  found 
another  ! "  the  Governor  was  wont  to  reply,  — 

"Dorothea,  write  the  name  in  our  record,  in  the 
Book  which  tells  of  the  Christ  who  tasted  death  for 
one  man." 

At  the  very  end  Dorothea  was  sitting  by  Governor 
Randall's  chair,  with  her  little  prattling  daughter 
held  within  his  reach.  He  touched  the  child's  head, 
saying  of  sweet  infancy,  "  It  is  the  greatest  thing  in 
the  world ! " 

Soon  after  he  fell  asleep. 

None  such  as  Hezekiah  Randall,  say  you  ? 

There  will  yet  be  thousands. 


A     000  036  408     3 


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